Romance Scams
A romance scam happens when a fraudster pretends to build a romantic relationship, usually online, in order to gain your trust and steal your money. Scammers often use dating apps, social media, or even email to target victims. They’ll seem kind, caring, and emotionally invested, but it’s all part of a long con.
Look for these red flags:
| “I want to visit you but need help with airfare” | Travel scam |
| “My child is sick and I need help with medical bills” | Sympathy scam |
| “I’ve been arrested overseas and need bail” | Emergency scam |
| “I need help accessing my inheritance” | Advance-fee scam |
| “Can you cash this check and send me the money?” | Fake check scam |
| “I’ll pay you back — just trust me” | They never do |
Protect Yourself from Romance Scams
– Slow down, scammers create false urgency
– Reverse image search their photos to check for fakes
– Talk to someone you trust before sending money
– Report suspicious profiles on dating apps and social media
– Set strong privacy settings on your accounts
– Don’t send money to someone you haven’t met in person
– Don’t share personal info, banking details, or photos that could be used for blackmail
– Don’t cash a check or forward money for someone you met online
– Don’t ignore gut feelings — if something feels off, it probably is
