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Romance Scams

Someone you met online says they love you. Then the requests for money begin.

A scammer creates an attractive profile on a dating app, social media, or even a game or church group chat. They message you every day, share their "life," and build real emotional closeness over weeks or months. Then a crisis appears: a medical emergency, a customs fee, a business problem, or a can't-miss investment. They ask for money, gift cards, or cryptocurrency, and there is always a reason they cannot meet in person or video chat.

Watch: how this scam works

Published by the FBI · 2:37 Open the original

Warning signs

  • They fall in love very fast and message constantly, but always have an excuse to avoid video calls or meeting.
  • They claim to work far away: military deployment, an oil rig, an overseas hospital, international business.
  • After weeks of warmth, a sudden emergency requires money, and only you can help.
  • They ask for payment in ways that cannot be reversed: wire transfer, gift cards, or cryptocurrency.
  • They ask you to keep the relationship secret from your family and friends.
  • Their profile photos look like a model, or the same photos appear elsewhere online under a different name.

How to protect yourself

  • Never send money, gift cards, or cryptocurrency to someone you have not met in person, no matter how long you have talked.
  • Try a reverse image search of their photos (ask a family member to help). Stolen photos are a common sign.
  • Talk to a trusted friend or family member about a new online relationship. Scammers count on secrecy.
  • Be extra careful if they quickly move the conversation off the dating app to KakaoTalk, WhatsApp, or text.
  • If they mention investing or cryptocurrency, stop. That is a well-known scam pattern, not romance.

If it happened to you

  1. Stop sending money now, even if they promise to pay you back or beg. Cut off contact.
  2. Call your bank right away if you sent money recently. Some transfers can be stopped or disputed.
  3. Save everything before blocking them: chat history, profile, photos, payment receipts. It is all evidence.
  4. Please do not suffer in silence out of shame. These criminals are professionals who fool smart, kind people every day. Reporting protects you and others.

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