Romance Scams: How to Protect Your Heart and Your Wallet

2.11.2025

In a world where dating apps and social media have made it easier than ever to connect with people, scammers have found new ways to exploit emotions and empty bank accounts. Romance scams are on the rise, costing victims over $1.3 billion in losses in 2022 alone. These scams don’t just break hearts—they destroy financial security.

Let’s break down how these scams work, red flags to watch for, and how you can protect yourself (or your loved ones) from falling victim.

How Romance Scams Work

A romance scam typically follows a pattern:

• The Connection – A scammer reaches out through a dating app, social media, or even email. They may pretend to be a soldier, a doctor working overseas, or a wealthy businessperson. Their profile is usually fake, often using stolen photos.
• The Love Bombing – They quickly build an emotional connection, showering you with compliments, affection, and promises of a future together. This is called "love bombing" and is meant to make you feel special and deeply connected.
• The Crisis – Once trust is established, the scammer manufactures a financial emergency. It could be a sudden medical bill, a frozen bank account, or a plane ticket they can’t afford. They’ll ask you to send money, often through wire transfers, gift cards, or cryptocurrency—methods that are hard to trace and recover.
• The Drain – If you send money, the requests won’t stop. They’ll come up with more excuses, pulling you deeper into the scam. By the time the victim realizes what’s happening, the scammer has vanished with thousands—or even hundreds of thousands—of dollars.

Red Flags to Watch For

🚩 They fall in love too fast – If someone you just met online is professing their love within days or weeks, be skeptical.

🚩 They never want to meet in person – Scammers often claim they’re stationed overseas, working in a remote location, or dealing with a personal crisis that prevents them from meeting.

🚩 They always have an excuse – Every time you try to video chat or meet in person, something conveniently comes up.

🚩 They ask for money – The biggest red flag. No legitimate relationship should involve sending money to someone you’ve never met.

🚩 They pressure you – Scammers often use guilt, urgency, or emotional manipulation to make you send money quickly.

How to Protect Yourself

✅ Reverse image search their photos – Use Google Images or TinEye to check if their profile pictures are stolen.

✅ Be skeptical of online-only relationships – If someone refuses to meet or video chat after a reasonable amount of time, it’s a major red flag.

✅ Never send money or gifts – No matter how convincing their story sounds, do not send money, gift cards, or cryptocurrency.

✅ Talk to a friend or family member – Scammers try to isolate their victims. A second opinion from a trusted friend can help spot red flags.

✅ Report suspicious accounts – If you suspect a scam, report it to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), or the dating platform you met them on.

What to Do If You’ve Been Scammed

If you’ve already sent money, act quickly:

• Contact your bank or credit union to see if they can stop or reverse the transfer.

If you sent money through a gift card, contact the card issuer immediately.

• Report the scam to the FTC (reportfraud.ftc.gov) and your local authorities.

Remember, romance scams are designed to make victims feel ashamed—but it’s not your fault. Scammers are professional manipulators who exploit emotions for profit. By speaking up, you can help prevent others from falling into the same trap.

💔 Have you or someone you know experienced a romance scam? Share this post to help spread awareness!