Romance Scams: How Fraudsters Build Fake Relationships to Steal Money

Romance scams are uniquely cruel because they exploit the most fundamental human need — the desire for connection and love. Fraudsters spend weeks or months building a genuine-feeling relationship with their victim before asking for money. By the time the request comes, the victim is deeply emotionally invested and often refuses to believe they are being deceived.

How Romance Scams Work

The scammer creates a fake profile on a dating site, social media platform, or even a gaming app. They typically claim to be a professional working abroad — a doctor on a humanitarian mission, a military officer, or an engineer on an oil rig. This explains why they can never meet in person and why they might need financial help.

After weeks of daily contact — messages, calls, sometimes even video calls using deepfake technology — they introduce a crisis: a medical emergency, a legal problem, or a business opportunity that requires money urgently. The requests start small and escalate.

Warning Signs

• They claim to be working abroad and can never meet in person
• They profess love unusually quickly ("love bombing")
• Their profile photos look like stock images or models (reverse image search them)
• They avoid video calls, or the video quality is poor and they seem "off"
• They ask for money via bank transfer, gift cards, or cryptocurrency
• They ask you to keep the relationship secret

Why reporting matters

Romance fraud can cause financial and emotional harm. If you think you have been targeted, preserve messages and payment references, tell someone you trust, contact your bank promptly, and report the incident through the official routes listed below.

What to Do

If you suspect a romance scam, stop sending money immediately. Talk to a trusted friend or family member, report the account to the platform where you met the person, and contact your bank promptly if you have sent money. You can report the incident through Report Fraud.