Introduction | Protecting Yourself From Romance Scams
The Tinder Swindler conned multiple women out of millions of dollars. A French woman was conned out of €830,000 by scammers posing as Brad Pitt. An American man lost US $700,000 to a romance scam.
With the popularity of online dating, romance scams have grown into a common threat for individuals seeking meaningful connections. These scams are a form of social engineering, carefully designed to manipulate emotions, establish false trust, and ultimately exploit victims financially. Knowing the methods scammers use and who they target are the first steps in protecting yourself from falling into their romance scam traps.
The Psychology Behind Romance Scams
Romance scammers typically rely on emotional manipulation to control their victims. They use tactics like “love bombing,” where they overwhelm their targets with affection, compliments, and attention to create an emotional bond. By making victims feel special and valued, scammers create a sense of connection that often blinds their targets to red flags.
Once trust is established, scammers introduce fabricated emergencies or matters that need to be taken care of urgently as a way to push victims into making hasty decisions. They may claim to have a sudden financial or medical crisis, taking advantage of their target’s empathy and encouraging them to send money without questioning the situation. Alternating between affection and vulnerability, scammers can keep their victims emotionally invested, making it harder for them to walk away.
How Scammers Convince Victims They’re Genuine
One of the challenges romance scam victims face is distinguishing between a real connection and a fabricated persona. Scammers often claim they are unable to meet or video chat due to their circumstances. Excuses like being in the military or working/living in remote areas are commonly used to explain their inability to communicate face-to-face or by Facetime/phone calls.
To build credibility, scammers often use stolen photos and create fake social media profiles. Some even rely on AI-generated images to make their personas more convincing. By aligning their fabricated personalities with their victim’s interests and values, they appear relatable and trustworthy. Keeping communication restricted to text messaging-based apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, etc. allows them to maintain control over the narrative and avoid exposing inconsistencies in their stories.
The Rise of Romance Scams
Globally, romance scams are on the rise. According to a report by the Global Anti-Scam Alliance (GASA), financial losses from scams totaled an estimated $1.03 trillion in 2024. While romance scams rank as the sixth most common type of scam, the actual numbers are likely much higher — possibly exceeding the estimated 70% of unreported cases — due to the emotional element that may further discourage victims from coming forward.
Technology advances have made romance scams even more sophisticated. Scammers now use AI to automate conversations, send highly personalized messages, and deepen emotional manipulation. Organized groups operating on an international scale have also made it easier for scammers to target multiple victims simultaneously, increasing the scale and impact of these schemes.
Who is the Most Common Target for Romance Scams?
Although anyone can fall victim to a romance scam, certain factors can make individuals more vulnerable. Scammers often target those experiencing loneliness or social isolation, as well as individuals going through significant life transitions, such as divorce, retirement, or the loss of a loved one. People who are less familiar with digital safety practices are also at higher risk.
Additionally, older adults and members of marginalized communities are frequently targeted due to perceived emotional vulnerability. Scammers also tend to focus on empathetic and trusting individuals who are more likely to believe their fabricated stories. Active users of online dating platforms and social media are particularly accessible to scammers, making awareness a must for anyone engaging in digital relationships.
Protecting Yourself from Romance Scams
The best defense against romance scams is awareness and caution. Be skeptical of online relationships that progress unusually quickly, especially if the person begins discussing financial issues. Never send money to someone you’ve only interacted with online, regardless of how genuine they seem. The same warning stands true in terms of providing access to sensitive accounts or information like financial details.
Be it romance scams or general online scams, we can all benefit from improving our cyber hygiene. The Global Cyber Alliance Cybersecurity Toolkit is an excellent — and free — repository of tools, information, and vetted resources to reduce your risk of becoming a scammer’s next victim.
Simple precautions, like performing reverse image searches to verify profile photos and sticking to reputable dating platforms with identification verification features, can help you identify potential scammers. If something feels off, trust your instincts and seek advice from a trusted friend or family member before taking further steps.
The Takeaway | Vigilance With a Dash of Skepticism
Sometimes it is easy to ignore the red flags because we want to see the good in people. Romance scams take advantage of those feelings, trust, and vulnerability, resulting in damage that can have both a financial and emotional impact. By familiarizing yourself with how these scams work and recognizing the warning signs, you can better protect your wallet — and your heart — from becoming a victim.
If you’ve been the victim of any cybercrime, one of the best actions you can take is to report it to relevant enforcement agencies. We maintain a list of cybercrime reporting resources through our Actionable Cybersecurity Tools (ACT).
And for additional resources and free tools to protect yourself from all types of online fraud, visit the Global Cyber Alliance.
