Romance Scam Warning Signs and What to Do
Romance scams work by building emotional trust first and asking for money second. Knowing the pattern makes it much easier to spot.
How a romance scam usually unfolds
- They contact you first, with a very attractive profile and lots of attention.
- They quickly move you to private messaging and say they love you or feel a deep connection.
- They can never meet or video chat: they're working overseas, in the military, on an oil rig, or traveling.
- A crisis appears: a medical bill, a blocked bank account, a customs fee, a business deal.
- They ask for money, often by gift card, wire transfer or cryptocurrency, which are hard to reverse.
Red flags in one list
- Pressure to keep the relationship secret.
- Any request for money, gift cards, crypto or your banking details.
- Asking you to receive and forward packages or payments for them.
- Investment tips or a "can't-lose" opportunity from someone you've never met.
- Refusing a live video call, again and again.
If you think you're being scammed
- Stop sending money and stop replying.
- Keep the messages and screenshots. Don't delete anything.
- Report the profile on the platform where you met.
- Contact your bank or payment provider right away. Speed matters.
- Report the fraud to your national consumer protection or cybercrime authority. In the US, that's the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
You are not to blame
Scammers are professionals at building trust. Being targeted says nothing about your intelligence. Reporting quickly helps you and helps others.