Scam category
Romance scams
Romance scams rarely begin with a direct financial ask. They start with emotional trust, move into isolation, and then introduce a money problem, investment pitch, or fabricated emergency.
Category activity
“romance scam”
↑ 168%Watch for
- The relationship gets emotionally intense before real-world proof exists.
- The conversation quickly moves to private apps and away from public platforms.
- A money request is framed as an emergency, proof of trust, or travel problem.
Common searches
OpenScam News Feed
Hospital bill came in at 4x the estimate and the billing department won't budge, what now?
U.S. Elderly mother victim of extensive romance and recovery scams. Taking over power of attorney. Advice needed.
FTC Takes Action Against Match and OkCupid for Deceiving Users by Sharing Personal Data with Third Party
Romance-led investment scam
A relationship begins on social or dating platforms and gradually shifts toward a fake investing opportunity with fabricated gains and escalating deposits.
Never invest based on a romantic contact's recommendation.
Online daters
Global
Romance scam recovery lawyer fraud
A fake lawyer claims they already tracked your romance scammer and only need filing fees to start the recovery.
Treat recovery outreach after a romance scam as likely secondary fraud.
Romance scam victims
Global
Widowed doctor romance scam
A scammer claims to be a widowed doctor working abroad and builds trust before asking for emergency money.
Reverse image search the profile and pause before sending anything.
Online daters
Global
Military deployment romance scam
A fake service member says military rules block access to money or leave, so the victim needs to send funds or gift cards.
Do not send money to anyone who cannot verify identity outside the romance narrative.
Online daters
Global
Long-distance model romance scam
A glamorous long-distance profile quickly becomes emotionally intense and asks for travel or document money to finally meet.
Verify with a live video call and outside social proof before believing the story.
Young adults
Global
Romance gift card emergency scam
A romantic contact says their phone, rent, or food emergency can be solved quickly if you send gift cards or instant payment.
Never move money to a romantic contact you have not met and verified.
Online daters
Global
Sugar dating verification fee scam
A match promises an allowance but first requests verification payments, subscription fees, or gift cards to activate the arrangement.
Treat any payment-before-payment arrangement as fraud.
Students
Global
Romance customs package scam
A romantic contact says they sent a valuable package, but customs, courier, or anti-terror fees must be paid before delivery.
Do not pay package release fees for gifts from online-only partners.
Online daters
Global
Romance hospital bill scam
A romantic partner claims to be in the hospital or detained after an accident and asks for urgent treatment money.
Verify through an independent hospital number before believing any emergency.
Online daters
Global
Romance-to-forex bait scam
A romantic contact slowly shifts the conversation into a special forex or crypto opportunity that only trusted people can access.
Separate emotional relationships from financial decisions entirely.
Professionals
Global
Romance loss recovery lawyer scam
A victim of a romance scam is approached by a supposed lawyer or investigator who says the case can be reopened for a fee and document package.
Treat unsolicited legal recovery outreach as suspicious and verify the firm through public registries.
Romance scam victims
Global
Oil rig romance scam
A romantic contact claims to be working offshore on an oil rig and asks for help with satellite calls, medical clearances, or emergency travel money.
Treat offshore contractor money stories as suspicious until the identity is independently proven.
Online daters
Global
Inheritance release romance scam
A romantic contact says money is tied up in inheritance, customs, or attorney fees and asks the victim to help unlock it so they can be together.
Do not send funds to unlock inheritance, estates, or cross-border transfers for a romantic contact.
Older adults
Global
Sugar dating verification fee scam
A match says they want to send support or begin an arrangement, but first the victim must pay a small verification or transfer-release fee.
Do not pay any fee to receive money from a stranger who claims to be setting up support.
Students
Global
Celebrity romance chat scam
A victim believes they are in private contact with a celebrity or creator who eventually asks for gift cards, crypto, or help escaping a contract.
Assume direct romantic or financial outreach from famous figures is fraudulent unless proven through official channels.
Fans
Global
romance scam gift card request
An online romantic interest builds a relationship over weeks or months, then asks for gift cards as a way to help with an emergency, travel expenses, or proof of love.
Never send gift cards or gift card photos to someone you have not met in person.
Older adults
U.S.
dating app recording threat scam
A match on a dating app lures the victim into a video call, captures intimate moments, then threatens to share the recording unless a payment is made.
Do not pay — payment rarely stops the threats and often leads to increased demands.
Young adults
U.S.
military romance impersonation scam
Scammers steal photos and identities of real service members to create fake dating profiles, building romantic relationships to eventually request money for supposed deployment needs.
Reverse image search the profile photos — stolen military photos are commonly reused across scam accounts.
Military families
U.S.
sweetheart swindle in care home
A person befriends or feigns romantic interest in an elderly care home resident to gain access to their finances, manipulating them into gifting money or changing their will.
Alert the care facility administration and request a review of visitor logs and resident interactions.
Seniors
U.S.
background check fee scam
A dating match asks you to pay for a background check on them as a trust-building gesture, directing you to a fake background check site that pockets the fee.
Do not pay for background checks through links sent by dating matches.
Online daters
U.S.
social media then DM scam
Scammers build credibility through public social media interactions before moving to private DMs where they execute phishing attacks, romance scams, or investment fraud.
Be cautious of new contacts who engage publicly before quickly moving to private messages.
Online users
U.S.
Craigslist romance through personal ads scam
Scammers use Craigslist personal ads or community sections to initiate fake romantic relationships, eventually requesting money for emergencies, travel, or medical bills.
Never send money to someone you have not met in person, regardless of how strong the emotional connection feels.
Older adults
U.S.
romance scam on senior dating site
Scammers create fake profiles on dating sites popular with seniors, build emotional relationships over weeks or months, then request money for fabricated emergencies.
Never send money to someone you have only met online, regardless of how strong the connection feels.
Seniors
U.S.
deepfake romantic partner scam
Scammers use AI-generated deepfake video and voice to create a convincing fake romantic partner for video calls, building emotional bonds before requesting money for fabricated emergencies.
Insist on meeting in person or conduct a live video call where you ask them to perform spontaneous actions.
Singles
U.S.
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