Romance scam warning signs
Romance scammers build trust on dating apps and social media, then invent a reason they need money. The US Federal Trade Commission’s rule is simple: never send money or gifts to someone you have not met in person.
Stories scammers tell
- They move the chat quickly off the dating app to email, phone or a messaging app.
- They say they cannot meet because they live abroad, work on an oil rig, serve in the military or work for an international organization.
- After frequent chats, an urgent need appears: medical bills, travel tickets, visa costs, legal fees.
- They offer to help you invest, often in cryptocurrency.
How they ask to be paid
- Wire transfers through services like Western Union or MoneyGram.
- Gift cards, asking you for the PIN codes.
- Money transfer apps or cryptocurrency.
- They push for payment right away, in ways that are hard to get back.
What to do
- Stop communicating with the person.
- Talk to a friend or family member you trust about it.
- Search the person’s job with the word “scammer”, and run a reverse image search on their profile photos.
- If you already paid by gift card, wire, card or cryptocurrency, contact the company or your bank right away and ask for a refund.
- Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, and report the profile to the app where you met.
Sources: FTC: What to know about romance scams · FTC: Report fraud. Last checked October 25, 2026.