How to Spot and Avoid Romance Scams

Love - it’s the universal language that makes the world go ‘round, and unfortunately, the perfect cover for scammers. In the age of swipes, likes, and video chats, finding a soulmate online is more common than ever. According to Statista, a statistics portal, "...over 17 percent of the population of the United States were using online dating services, translating to almost 60 million users."   

Cybercriminals are equal opportunity scammers - both men and women can be, and often are, duped by these sneaky tactics. 

But lurking behind sweet messages and flirty emojis could be a criminal looking for their next victim, not their next Valentine.

Welcome to the world of romance scams, where promises of eternal love come with requests for cash, gift cards, or even a wire transfer to help your new love get out of a jam or to start a new business.

Here’s how to keep your heart intact and your bank account unscathed.

The Roadmap of a Romance Scam

Romance scams are digital catfishing expeditions with a financial hook. They typically follow a pattern:

You are the Perfect Match
You’re scrolling through a dating app or chatting on social media when the most attractive, charming person you’ve ever encountered slides into your life. They’re an oil rig engineer, a doctor volunteering in a remote country, or military personnel based oversea. How thrilling! How suspicious.

The Fast-Tracked Fairy Tale
Before you know it, you’re "the one." They send heartfelt texts, call you their soulmate, and even talk about a future together. But there’s a catch—they can’t meet you in person just yet. Work commitments, international travel, or mysterious emergencies always get in the way.

The Ask
Enter the sob story: they’ve had an accident, their wallet was stolen, or their business deal fell through. They just need a little financial help, and once things are sorted, they’ll pay you back and whisk you away to paradise. Spoiler alert: they won’t.

Watch for Those Red Flags 

Romance scams are built on manipulation, but you can outsmart even the savviest scammer. Look out for these warning signs:

They profess love too quickly.
If someone declares you’re their soulmate after three days of texting, they’re probably not being authentic—or emotionally stable.

They avoid video chats or meeting in person.
A blurry profile picture, minimal info and photos on their profile pages and excuses for dodging video chats are classic scammer tactics.

They ask for money, gift cards, or cryptocurrency.
True love doesn’t come with a Venmo request. Don't be pressured to come up with money for someone you've never met.

Their stories don’t add up.
If they claim to be a "doctor" but don’t seem to know basic medical terms, or a "pilot" who doesn’t recognize major airports, trust your gut - they might be bluffing.

How to Stay Scam-Free

Protecting yourself from romance scams is as much about common sense as it is about vigilance. Here’s your playbook:

Do a little detective work.
Reverse images search their profile picture to see if it’s been lifted from someone else. Google snippets of their backstory to spot recurring scam narratives.

Keep your wallet closed.
Never, ever send money to someone you haven’t met in person, no matter how convincing their sob story.

Talk to someone you trust.
Friends and family are often better at spotting red flags when you’re caught up in a whirlwind romance.

Report suspicious profiles.
If you suspect a scam, alert the dating platform or social media site, and report them to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

Love Online, But Keep It Safe

Finding real romance digitally can be magical and it happens often but it can also come with pitfalls. By staying sharp, questioning too-good-to-be-true stories, and never wiring money to strangers, you can keep your heart and finances safe.

Remember, love may be blind, but it doesn’t have to be gullible. So, swipe smart, trust your instincts, and may your romantic escapades lead to a happily-ever-after instead of hard lessons learned.