Millions of people meet their partners through social media platforms and dating apps. For many, these platforms offer opportunities for real connection. However, for many others, a swipe, a follow, or a response to a friendly message quietly marks the beginning of a romance scam. What seems like a genuine connection gradually turns into manipulation that leaves victims not only heartbroken but also with significant loss. Key scam trends in the USA are constantly changing, but romance scams consistently exploit loneliness and trust. Understanding how these scams work, the warning signs, and ways to protect yourself is essential. Key Insights Romance scams are among the most costly forms of fraud in the U.S., with billions lost each year. Typically, scammers use tactics such as love bombing to build a connection and gain their victims’ trust before exploiting them for financial gain. Common red flags for romance scams include relationships that progress unusually fast, repeated excuses to avoid meeting, and requests for money. What Is a Romance Scam? Romance scams, also known as dating scams, involve scammers creating a fake online identity to gain a victim’s trust and affection. Once an emotional connection is established, they make financial requests or manipulate victims into sharing their financial information. The statistics on romance scams in the USA are staggering. In 2024, losses from romance scams were estimated at $1.3 billion, with an average loss per victim of $15,000. What Are the Signs of a Romance Scam? Below is a look at the most common warning signs of a romance scam. Love bombing. Scammers may profess strong affection for you or even promise marriage within a few days or weeks of knowing you. These tactics are used to quickly establish an emotional connection. Avoiding meetings. According to the FBI website, most love scammers claim they work outside the U.S., are in the military, are on oil rigs, or are living abroad as a reason they are unable to meet. In such cases, check their name online and whether their information matches their story. Also, run a reverse image search of their photos to see if they appear under a different name or profile. Emphasis on moving communication off the app. Since most of these connections initially occur on dating websites or social media, scammers are keen to persuade their victims to move communication to private messaging platforms such as Messenger, Telegram, email, WhatsApp, or by phone. Inconsistencies in their stories. If you are keen enough, you will notice inconsistencies or vagueness in their stories. Requesting secrecy. Scammers may ask you to keep the relationship secret from friends and family. Financial request. Typically, the scammer will request money or financial help from you within a few weeks or months of knowing you. They may claim to have medical emergencies or tragic incidents, or say they need to travel urgently. They then ask you to send money via wire transfer, cryptocurrency, or gift cards. Offer investment opportunities. Others try to be smarter and, instead of asking you for money, position themselves as accomplished investors and offer you seemingly legitimate financial or cryptocurrency investment opportunities. Real Stories of Romance Scams Romance scams are widely reported across dating apps, social media, online review forums, and in consumer news. For example, one reviewer shared an attempted dating scam through the report a scam feature on PissedConsumer. Sent me stunning photos. Said she was real but never a phone number, nor address. Finally the biggest scam was her going to Italy which her late father left her $4.5 million. Yet only wanted me to have her phone update for overseas travel for $460. Fortunately, the reviewer refused to send any money after a week of back-and-forth communication. However, many others are not so lucky. A Reddit user described how a seemingly genuine connection turned into a financial trap. I matched with a Chinese girl on Bumpy about two weeks ago. We talked on the app for about a week and then moved to WhatsApp. Things got close pretty fast… The scammer claimed to have insider information from a relative working at a bank in China that the cryptocurrency would rise. Therefore, the opportunity seemed legitimate. Additionally, the user was initially able to transfer funds between his accounts without issues or additional charges. Things fell apart when he attempted to withdraw the $10,000 from their account. They told me I needed to pay a 10% tax on my profit, which was around £1850. I paid it to an ERC20 address and waited. Nothing came through. A few hours later they emailed again saying my tax was confirmed, but because I’m “not a China user,” I needed to pay another 1000 USDT to open an international withdrawal channel. That’s when the user stopped. But, they had already lost money to the dating app and crypto scam. What to Do if You Fall Victim to a Romance Scam If you believe you have fallen victim to a dating scam, it is important to act quickly and take the following steps: Stop communicating with the scammer immediately. Report them to the platform you met on. Report the incident to law enforcement. For example, you may report romance scams through the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). If you had sent them money or shared any financial information, monitor your financial accounts or put a fraud alert on your cards to avoid credit card fraud. Romance scams affect thousands of people every year, often leaving victims emotionally and financially devastated. Sharing your experience can help recognize the warning signs and avoid falling victim If you have encountered a dating scam, report a scam on PissedConsumer to share your story with others. Report a Scam