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    Romance Scams: How They Work and What to Do If You Are Targeted

    How online romance fraud works, the warning signs that someone may not be who they say they are, and the steps to take if you suspect you have been targeted.

    4 min read 5 stepsApril 20, 2026Verified April 2026
    1

    Recognize the warning signs early

    ~32s
    Be alert if someone online: declares love or deep feelings unusually quickly, always has a reason they cannot meet or video chat, asks you to move to a different app or messaging platform, has a dramatic personal story involving being far away (military deployment, overseas work, medical crisis), or asks for money in any form after any amount of time.

    Quick Tip

    Do a reverse image search on their profile photo. Go to images.google.com, click the camera icon, and upload or paste their photo. If the image appears on multiple different profiles with different names, it is almost certainly stolen.

    2

    Never send money to someone you have not met in person

    ~30s
    No matter how well you feel you know someone online, never send money, gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfers to someone you have not met face-to-face. Legitimate romantic interests do not ask people they have never met for financial help. Gift cards and wire transfers are especially suspicious — they are nearly impossible to trace or recover.

    Warning

    Scammers often say they need one final payment, or that they will pay you back as soon as they arrive. These are manipulation tactics. The money is gone once sent.

    3

    Ask someone you trust for an outside perspective

    ~17s
    If you have strong feelings for someone you met online but have never met in person, describe the situation to a trusted friend or family member. Sometimes an outside perspective makes warning signs clearer. Many victims say they wish they had talked to someone sooner.
    4

    Report the account and the fraud

    ~16s
    If you believe you are dealing with a scammer, report their profile to the platform where you met them (Facebook, the dating app, etc.) and report the fraud to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov. If you have sent money, contact your bank immediately to report the transaction.
    5

    Get emotional and practical support

    ~17s
    Romance scam victims often feel ashamed, but there is nothing to be ashamed of — you were deliberately targeted by a professional manipulator. Call the AARP Fraud Watch Network helpline at 1-877-908-3360 for free confidential counseling and guidance on next steps. The FTC's website also has resources at consumer.ftc.gov/articles/what-you-need-know-about-romance-scams.

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    Romance scams are one of the most financially and emotionally devastating types of fraud in the United States. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reported that Americans lost over $1.3 billion to romance scams in 2022 — the single largest fraud category by dollar amount. Older adults are disproportionately targeted.

    A romance scam works like this: a criminal creates a fake profile on a dating site, social media platform, or even a game or forum. They contact you, spend weeks or months building trust and emotional connection, and then — once they feel you are attached — they ask for money.

    The typical progression

    The relationship starts warmly. The person is attentive, says all the right things, and seems almost too perfect. They claim to be a widowed doctor, a military officer overseas, an engineer on an oil rig, or some other profession that keeps them conveniently far away. They always have a reason they cannot video call or meet in person.

    Once strong feelings develop, the requests begin: a medical emergency, a plane ticket to come visit, an investment opportunity that cannot wait, or a customs fee to release a package with cash or gifts inside. The requests escalate. People have lost tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars.

    Warning signs

    • They declare strong feelings very quickly ("love bombing")
    • They always have an excuse for why they cannot meet in person or video chat
    • Their photos look professionally taken or oddly perfect — search the image using Google Reverse Image Search (images.google.com)
    • They ask for money, gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfers
    • They ask you to move conversations off the dating app to text or WhatsApp
    • Their messages sometimes have unusual grammar or phrasing

    If you suspect a romance scam

    Stop sending money immediately. Do not be embarrassed — these criminals are skilled manipulators. Report the account to the platform and to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov. Call the AARP Fraud Watch Network helpline at 1-877-908-3360 for free counseling.

    Quick Tip: If someone you have never met in person asks for money — in any form — treat it as a serious red flag regardless of how much you care about them.

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    Official Resources

    FTC Consumer ProtectionCISA — Cybersecurity TipsAARP Fraud Watch Network

    Sources used to create and verify this guide. View all sources →

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    Romance Scams: How They Work and What to Do If You Are Targeted — Step-by-Step Guide | TekSure