Romance Scams in the USA: Is Your Online Love Interest a Scammer?
Romance scams cost Americans hundreds of millions of dollars every year, according to the FTC. Scammers create fake profiles on dating apps like Tinder, Hinge, and Bumble — or slide into your DMs on Facebook and Instagram — and spend weeks building a relationship. Then the requests begin: money for an emergency, a plane ticket to finally meet, or a 'guaranteed' crypto investment they want to share with you.
Real Scam Message Examples
These are real examples of messages used in this type of scam. If you receive something similar, do not click any links.
Example 1
“I've never felt this connection so fast, honey. I'm on a contract offshore right now — my card got frozen and I can't buy food. Could you send $400 in Steam gift cards? I'll pay you back the moment I'm home to you.”
Example 2
“My flight to finally meet you is booked! But customs is holding my luggage and I need $1,200 to release it. You're the only one I can trust, my love. Please Zelle it and we'll be together this weekend.”
Example 3
“Baby, I want to build our future together. My cousin manages a crypto fund that pays 30% — let me set you up on the platform so we both retire early. Just start with $1,000 and I'll guide you.”
Warning Signs of a Romance Scam
- ⚠The relationship moves fast — they profess strong feelings within days or weeks of matching
- ⚠They always have an excuse not to meet in person or video chat (overseas job, military deployment, oil rig)
- ⚠They ask you to move off the dating app to WhatsApp, Telegram, or text early on
- ⚠Eventually they ask for money — an emergency, travel costs, medical bills, or to 'invest' together in crypto
- ⚠They request gift cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency, or that you receive and forward money for them
How Does This Scam Work?
- 1A scammer creates an attractive fake profile using stolen photos on a dating app or social media
- 2They match with you and shower you with attention, quickly moving the chat to a private messaging app
- 3They build deep emotional trust over weeks while always dodging in-person or video meetings
- 4A crisis or opportunity appears — an emergency, travel costs, or a 'shared' crypto investment — and they ask for money
- 5Once you send funds, the requests escalate; when the money or your patience runs out, they disappear
Legitimate vs Scam: How to Tell the Difference
| Aspect | ✓ Legitimate | ✗ Scam |
|---|---|---|
| Meeting up | Willing to video chat and meet in person before long | Endless excuses to avoid video calls and face-to-face meetings |
| Money | A real partner doesn't ask you to send money to someone you've never met | Asks for gift cards, wire transfers, or crypto for emergencies |
| Pace | Trust and affection build gradually over time | Declares love within days to speed up your emotional commitment |
| Where it moves | Comfortable keeping contact within the app you met on | Pushes you to WhatsApp or Telegram early, away from moderation |
What Should You Do?
- ✓Never send money, gift cards, or crypto to someone you've only met online, no matter the story
- ✓Do a reverse image search on their photos — scammers reuse stolen pictures across many profiles
- ✓Insist on a live video call early; refusals or constant excuses are a major red flag
- ✓Paste their messages into ScamCheck for an instant verdict
- ✓Report the profile to the dating app, to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov, and to the FBI's IC3 at ic3.gov
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Check it now — it's free →Frequently Asked Questions
How much do romance scams cost Americans?
The FTC reports that romance scams cost Americans hundreds of millions of dollars each year, making them one of the highest-loss fraud categories. Individual victims frequently lose thousands to tens of thousands of dollars.
How can I tell if my online match is a scammer?
Watch for fast declarations of love, constant excuses to avoid video or in-person meetings, pressure to move to WhatsApp or Telegram, and eventually any request for money, gift cards, or crypto. A reverse image search on their photos can reveal stolen pictures used elsewhere.
What is a romance-to-crypto (pig-butchering) scam?
It's a hybrid scam where a romance scammer, after building trust, introduces a fake crypto or forex investment 'opportunity' and coaches you to deposit money on a bogus platform. The 'profits' are fake, and when you try to withdraw, the money is gone.
I sent money to an online partner — can I get it back?
Act immediately. Contact your bank or wire service to attempt a recall, and ask any gift card company to freeze the funds. Recovery is difficult, especially for gift cards and crypto, but reporting fast to the FTC and IC3 improves your chances and helps investigators.
How do I report a romance scam in the USA?
Report to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov and to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov. Also report the fake profile to the dating app or social platform so it can be removed and others protected.
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