Romance

In 2021, romance scams represented the second highest dollar loss, after investment scams. These scams prey on people through dating sites who are vulnerable. They then manipulate and entice these vulnerable people to enter a virtual relationship. 

Means of contact

• Email
• Text
• Internet

Description of scam
Scammers create fake profiles on social media and dating sites to target trusting people who they then manipulate. The game is to win over the trust and affection of the victim so they will drop their guard. Once this happens, it's an opening to begin the next stage. 

Tactics used
Romance scammers will request money for things like travel, to help solve an “emergency,” medical expenses, or for family assistance. They can also request you receive money on their behalf from questionable or unknown sources, or increasingly in cryptocurrency investments. 

Additional information
Read our Fraud Files article for a real-life example of this scam.