Tips & Support

Romance fraudsters are quite good at playing with people's feelings. They know what people want to hear and are good at making up stories that make people cry. These scammers typically use bogus names and stolen images to make themselves look good. People who are looking for meaningful connections and may be feeling lonely, recently divorced, or widowed are the most common targets. Anyone who wants to be with someone is a good target.

One of the first indicators of a romance scam is that the relationship moves too quickly. The scammer will typically say they have strong feelings for you within a few days or weeks of talking. You might like the attention and love they show you, but it takes time to create meaningful relationships. If someone is saying they have strong feelings for you before they even meet you, that's a bad sign.

Avoidance is another big red flag. The fraudster will come up with excuses not to meet in person. They can say they are in the military stationed overseas, working on an oil rig, or dealing with a family issue. These explanations may sound real, but their only objective is to delay or avoid physical contact while continuing to manipulate your feelings.

The story alters over time, and money comes up in the discourse. The fraudster can state they need help with an unexpected payment, a broken laptop, a visa, or a medical bill. They might say they would pay you back or even come to see you after their problem is fixed, but only if you help them first. It's a hazardous cycle, and the requests don't stop once money changes hands.

Scammers also aim to keep their victims alone. They can tell you to keep things secret or say that other people "won't understand" your connection. This makes an emotional bubble where they control the story, which makes it less likely that friends or relatives will bring up problems. This isolation makes it harder for victims to see the reality over time.

Listen to your gut. If something doesn't feel right, it probably isn't. It's important to pay attention to things like stories that don't add together, people who don't want to video chat, messages with bad language that are meant to come from educated experts, and people who don't want to talk on the phone. It's fine to ask questions, but if someone becomes upset or defensive when you do, that's an obvious sign.

If you've already sent money or shared personal information, you need to act fast. Stop talking to them right away, report the profile to the site, and let your bank know if you supplied any financial information. Emotional trauma can be just as bad as losing money, so getting help from friends or a mental health expert can be a big step toward getting well.

Being savvy about dating online doesn't mean being cold-hearted; it means looking out for your own health. Scammers don't only want your money; they want your hope. Staying vigilant and learning about things might help both your heart and your pocketbook protected.