Last year, consumers reported losing $143 million to romance scams — more than any other scam type reported to the FTC. And that total is likely to climb.
I can hear you: online dating already costs enough, and now we also have to worry about fraud?
Don’t run for the hills yet. There areways to recognize romance scams and sometimes even recover funds if you fall victim.
How to Recognize Dating Scams Online
The first warning sign is if they won’t meet you face to face.
If someone claims they’re overseas or otherwise unable to meet, proceed with caution. Persistent excuses about avoiding in-person meetings are a major red flag — it’s usually a good moment to cut ties.
Scammers often invent reasons like expiring memberships to coax your phone number or email so they can continue contact away from site safeguards. Even top dating platforms can miss some scammers, but they do monitor and block suspicious accounts, so don’t be lulled into a false sense of security.
That’s the scenario in which one woman lost more than $50,000. Her 2.5-month “relationship” included over 10,000 texts, 400 phone calls and not a single first date.
Run a Google image search on their profile photos to check if the pictures appear elsewhere. Fraudsters often use polished photos with luxurious backdrops to imply wealth, so when they later request money you assume they can — and will — reimburse you.
If their messages read like a poor machine translation, chances are they’re not who they claim to be. Likewise, a suddenemergency is almost always a hallmark of a scam. Even without a direct money request, scammers can manipulate victims into donating to dubious causes.
Steps to Take If You’ve Been Targeted
First — don’t feel ashamed.
FTC data shows reports of romance scams rose from 8,500 in 2015 to over 21,000 in 2018, so you’re far from alone.
If you shared bank or card information with someone you suspect is a scammer, contact your financial institution immediately and file a fraud alert with the three major credit bureaus.
If the scammer sent you files or links, make sure your anti-malware software is current and run a full system scan.
Services that transfer money are stepping up protections for fraud victims. The BBB suggests reporting scams — even those dating back to 2004 — to the FTC.
Alex Carter is a staff writer at Savinly and shares tips for saving money and tackling debt on Instagram at @modernfrugality.
