Frequently Asked Questions

Romance scammers create fake profiles on dating sites or social media, build emotional relationships over weeks or months, then fabricate emergencies requiring money. They use stolen photos, create elaborate backstories, and manipulate victims emotionally.

Red flags include: the person is too perfect, they quickly profess love, they avoid video calls, their photos seem too professional, they have excuses for not meeting in person, and they eventually ask for money for emergencies, travel, or business opportunities.

Romance scammers are experts at emotional manipulation. They target loneliness and desire for connection, spend significant time building trust, and create compelling stories. The emotional investment makes it hard for victims to accept the truth.

Stop all communication immediately, do not send any more money, reverse image search their photos, report the profile to the platform, save all evidence of communications, and report to local police and the FTC. Never feel ashamed - these scammers are professionals.

Unfortunately, recovery is rare, especially for wire transfers or cryptocurrency. Contact your bank immediately as some payments can be reversed. Report to authorities and be wary of "recovery scams" where new scammers promise to recover your lost funds for a fee.