Romance Scams: Warning Signs and What to Do
Romance scams exploit loneliness and trust. Criminals create attractive profiles, build a relationship online and then ask for money.
Common warning signs
- They quickly profess strong feelings and move to private chat.
- They cannot video call or always have an excuse.
- Their story involves overseas work, military service or an emergency.
- They ask for money, gift cards or cryptocurrency.
How to check
Do a reverse image search of their photos, look for inconsistencies in their stories and ask a trusted friend for an outside view.
If you suspect a scam
Stop sending money, keep the messages as evidence and report the profile to the platform and to your local fraud authority. Tell your bank immediately if you sent payments.
Key takeaway: Never send money to someone you have not met in person, no matter how convincing the relationship feels.
