Fraud prevention
Online dating scam warning signs
Romance scams often combine emotional intensity with a reason the person cannot meet. Recognizing the pattern early is more reliable than trying to judge a profile by appearance alone.
Common warning signs
- Strong declarations of love or commitment very early
- Repeated reasons they cannot video call or meet
- A sudden emergency involving travel, health, customs, or family
- Requests for money, cryptocurrency, gift cards, or account access
- Pressure to move immediately to private messaging
- Investment advice from someone you have not met and verified
What to do when you are unsure
Stop sending personal information. Do not confront the person with details that help them improve the story. Save relevant messages, profile information, payment requests, and transaction details. Report the profile through the platform.
If you already sent money
Contact the payment provider or financial institution immediately and explain that you may be a fraud victim. Some transfers may be difficult to reverse, but acting quickly matters. Change exposed passwords and enable multi-factor authentication.
Do not blame yourself
Fraudsters deliberately build trust and urgency. Embarrassment can delay action and create more loss. Tell someone you trust and seek help from appropriate fraud-reporting and law-enforcement resources.