Online dating scams exploit emotional connections for financial gain. Learn the red flags and how to protect yourself.
Social media sites and dating apps have changed how we connect with others. But as these platforms have evolved, so have the tactics of scammers looking to manipulate genuine connections for financial gain.
Romance scams have become one of the costliest forms of fraud in the United States, with victims losing $1.16 billion to these scams in 2025, according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
The threat extends across all demographics. While older adults are particularly vulnerable, even younger, digitally fluent users fall victim to increasingly sophisticated operations that use artificial intelligence and stolen identities to create convincing personas.
“These schemes are often run by organized networks that invest weeks or months building trust with victims,” said Charles Laugen, senior manager of Client Risk Prevention for RBC Wealth Management–U.S. “The fraud works not because victims are careless, but because it exploits normal human emotions like loneliness, hope and trust.”
Understanding how romance scams work and recognizing the warning signs can help you protect yourself and those you care about.
Romance scams, also called online dating scams, are a type of fraud that targets people seeking meaningful personal connections online. These scams can be difficult to spot, with fraudsters hiding behind realistic fake profiles and leveraging AI-powered tools, including chatbot-driven conversations and deepfake audio or video, to create lifelike personas that feel relatable and genuine. By scanning a target’s profile, they can pick up on interests, preferences and other details to help build rapport and deepen the connection.
Financial requests are typically introduced gradually to avoid raising suspicion. They might be small at first—a bill they can’t cover, a temporary cash-flow problem—before escalating to larger sums. By the time significant money changes hands, victims often feel emotionally invested in the relationship, making it harder to recognize the manipulation.
Watch for these common red-flag behaviors to help you spot a potential romance scam.
Shortly after connecting, romance scammers will flood targets with compliments, praise and affectionate messages. This constant attention—known as “love bombing”—is meant to create the illusion of a close romantic relationship, even though you’ve never met in person.
Dating apps and social media platforms have built-in security measures to detect and ban potential scammers. To avoid these safeguards, scammers will quickly ask to move conversations to unmonitored platforms such as text messaging or email.
Repeatedly canceling video calls and in-person meetings is a telltale sign of a romance scam. Scammers will make plans to meet, then invent a sudden, unavoidable emergency—such as a family crisis or business obligation—that prevents them from following through. This strategy buys time for further emotional manipulation and creates opportunities to ask for financial assistance.
Eventually, a romance scammer will ask for money. They might say it’s for travel expenses to finally meet in person, for a medical emergency or to pay off debts so they can start a new life with you. They’ll often request funds via gift cards, cryptocurrency or wire transfers—payment methods that are difficult to trace or reverse once a transactions is complete.
Romance scams can be both financially and emotionally damaging. Laugen recommends the following steps to keep yourself safe while participating in online relationships.
Be wary of anyone who expresses strong emotions too quickly or tries to move the relationship forward at an unusually fast pace. Give yourself time to get to know the person thoroughly. Ask questions, observe how they respond and pay attention to inconsistencies in their stories. Genuine connections won’t pressure you into making premature commitments or decisions.
Before getting too involved with an online love interest, verify the person’s identity with a video call directly on the app. Scammers typically avoid face-to-face interactions, so insisting on seeing them on camera can help unmask fake profiles early on.
Try to find them on other social media platforms to confirm they’re authentic, and check for inconsistencies between their accounts. Real profiles typically show a history of posts and photos, while fake ones may lack those details or seem overly polished. You can also conduct reverse image searches to see if their profile pictures are used elsewhere online.
Never share sensitive information like your home address, workplace or any financial details with someone you’ve just met online. Use strong privacy settings on social media and limit the personal information you share publicly. Do not send money, gift cards or valuables to an online romantic interest you have not met in person—even if they say they need it for an emergency.
When you meet someone online, talk to someone you trust about them. Friends or family members can give you fresh perspectives and point out red flags you might have missed. Sometimes, others can recognize patterns or inconsistencies that are easy to overlook when you’re emotionally involved.
If something feels off in the relationship—such as requests for money or repeated excuses to avoid face-to-face contact—trust your instincts and say no. Scammers prey on emotional vulnerability, so it’s important to listen to any doubts you may have. If you run into a suspicious or fake profile, report it directly to the platform. Not only will this protect you, but it will help prevent others from falling victim to the scammer as well.
“While romance scams continue to evolve alongside technology, the underlying warning signs remain consistent,” Laugen says. “Awareness and caution are your strongest safeguards.”
If you or someone you know has been targeted by a romance scam, take the following steps right away:
Our fraud and scam recovery guide provides guidance on recovering from fraud, scams and identity theft.
Parts of this article were originally published on www.cnb.com .
RBC Wealth Management, a division of RBC Capital Markets, LLC, registered investment adviser and Member NYSE/FINRA/SIPC.
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