$12.5B
FTC-reported fraud losses in 2024
FTC says consumers reported losing $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024.
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.
“online shopping scam”
↑ 184%Key indicators
Usually targetsOlder adults
Often hitsSmall business owners
Common regionUnited States
Last updated2026-04-04
Estimated impact
$120
median reported loss
Typical range$24 – $1.2K
Recovery rate~40%
Annual reports370,000
Scam breakdown
1
Scammers create compelling profiles on Craigslist's community or activity partner sections, initiating conversations that quickly become romantic.
2
Over weeks or months, they build emotional connection and trust while never meeting in person.
3
Once trust is established, they fabricate an emergency — medical, legal, or financial — and request money, often repeatedly.
What to do first
Never send money to someone you have not met in person, regardless of how strong the emotional connection feels.
Related terms
Craigslist romance scampersonal ad catfishingOnline shopping scamsCraigslistSurgingOlder adultsAdultsLonely individualsSmall business ownersReal estate professionals and homebuyersHealthcare workersUnited StatesCanadaCraigslist romance scampersonal ad catfishing
Real-world example
How this scam plays out in practice
Based on reported patterns. Names and details are illustrative.
The setup
Thomas, 35, a older adults, encountered what appeared to be a legitimate online shopping scams situation while using Craigslist. Scammers create compelling profiles on Craigslist's community or activity partner sections, initiating conversations that quickly become romantic.
Step 2
What happened next was calculated: Over weeks or months, they build emotional connection and trust while never meeting in person.
Step 3
The pressure escalated quickly: Once trust is established, they fabricate an emergency — medical, legal, or financial — and request money, often repeatedly.
The outcome
Thomas realized something was wrong when new online romantic interest quickly professes deep feelings despite never meeting in person. By that point, significant damage had already been done — money sent, personal information shared, or trust exploited.
The lesson
Never send money to someone you have not met in person, regardless of how strong the emotional connection feels. Thomas's experience shows why new online romantic interest quickly professes deep feelings despite never meeting in person and they always have an excuse for why they cannot video chat or meet face-to-face are the clearest early warning signs.
How to identify it
- New online romantic interest quickly professes deep feelings despite never meeting in person
- They always have an excuse for why they cannot video chat or meet face-to-face
- They eventually ask for money for a flight, medical emergency, or legal trouble
- Pause before paying, clicking, or sharing information. Scammers rely on speed.
- Verify the sender, company, or agency using a phone number or website you already know is legitimate.
- Treat secrecy, urgency, and off-platform payment requests as strong scam signals.
What to do now
- ✓Never send money to someone you have not met in person, regardless of how strong the emotional connection feels.
- ✓Do a reverse image search on their photos — romance scammers typically use stolen photos.
- ✓Report romance scams to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov and the FBI IC3 at ic3.gov.
What to save before reporting
- ✓Save the message, profile, phone number, email, or URL that was used.
- ✓Keep payment confirmations, receipts, and account alerts before you dispute or delete anything.
- ✓Write down the timeline while the details are still fresh.
- ✓Preserve the listing ID, reservation ID, or the exact item URL because platform support will usually ask for it.
How big is this problem
You are not alone — this scam affects millions of people.
These numbers come from government agencies and official reports. If you have been affected, know that this is a widespread problem — not something that only happens to careless people.
FTC 2024 fraud losses
Imposters
Most common FTC fraud category in 2024
FTC says imposter scams remained the most commonly reported fraud category in 2024.
History and evolution
- This scam family tends to persist because the social-engineering pressure works even when the exact scripts, platforms, and payment methods change.
- The specific packaging evolves over time, but the core pattern usually stays the same: create urgency, control the channel, and push action before verification.
- Romance scams resulted in nearly 1.14 billion USD in reported losses in 2023 according to the FTC, making it one of the costliest fraud categories.
Recovery and follow-up
- ✓Save the messages, receipts, account alerts, and transaction details before you block or delete anything.
- ✓Report the scam through the official platform or government channel that best matches where it happened.
- ✓Never send money to someone you have not met in person, regardless of how strong the emotional connection feels.
- ✓Do a reverse image search on their photos — romance scammers typically use stolen photos.
- ✓Report romance scams to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov and the FBI IC3 at ic3.gov.
Why this pattern keeps working
Even when the story changes, most scams still use the same pressure pattern: urgency, authority, and a request to move money or data fast.
Romance scams resulted in nearly 1.14 billion USD in reported losses in 2023 according to the FTC, making it one of the costliest fraud categories.
FTC Consumer Sentinel 2025
Where to report it
If you have been targeted by this scam, reporting it helps authorities track the pattern and protect others. United States has dedicated agencies that handle fraud reports.
ReportFraud.gov
Federal Trade Commission
Central U.S. consumer fraud reporting portal.
File an IC3 complaint
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center
FBI portal for internet-enabled crime reports.
Start identity theft recovery
IdentityTheft.gov
Official U.S. identity theft recovery plan builder.
Explore further
Understand the bigger picture
Who is most at risk
Who this scam targets
Primary targets
Older adults, Adults, Lonely individuals
Geographic concentration
United States, Canada
Primary channel
Craigslist — Online shopping scams
Why this group is vulnerable
Older adults are particularly vulnerable because this scam exploits trust in familiar brands, authority figures, and time-sensitive decisions. The rapid increase in reports suggests that awareness among this demographic remains low.
Sources and methodology
How we verify this information
OpenScam tracks scam patterns using a combination of government consumer protection databases (FTC, IC3, Action Fraud), platform-specific fraud reports, and verified consumer complaint data. Each entry is cross-referenced against at least two independent sources before publication.
Severity ratings are based on financial impact potential, reversibility of damage, and volume of reports across multiple reporting channels. Trend velocity reflects the rate of change in report volume over the most recent 90-day window.
This page was last verified on 2026-04-04. Red flags, recovery steps, and reporting resources are reviewed quarterly against current agency guidance.
Evidence and indicators
- Romance scams resulted in nearly 1.14 billion USD in reported losses in 2023 according to the FTC, making it one of the costliest fraud categories.
Source notes
- FTC Consumer Sentinel 2025
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about craigslist romance through personal ads scam
How does the craigslist romance through personal ads scam work?+
Scammers create compelling profiles on Craigslist's community or activity partner sections, initiating conversations that quickly become romantic. Over weeks or months, they build emotional connection and trust while never meeting in person. Once trust is established, they fabricate an emergency — medical, legal, or financial — and request money, often repeatedly.
What are the warning signs of craigslist romance through personal ads scam?+
New online romantic interest quickly professes deep feelings despite never meeting in person They always have an excuse for why they cannot video chat or meet face-to-face They eventually ask for money for a flight, medical emergency, or legal trouble
What should I do if I encounter craigslist romance through personal ads scam?+
Never send money to someone you have not met in person, regardless of how strong the emotional connection feels. Do a reverse image search on their photos — romance scammers typically use stolen photos. Report romance scams to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov and the FBI IC3 at ic3.gov.
Who is most at risk for craigslist romance through personal ads scam?+
This scam primarily targets Older adults, Adults, Lonely individuals. It is most commonly reported in United States, Canada and typically appears on Craigslist.
Is craigslist romance through personal ads scam getting worse?+
Craigslist romance through personal ads scam is currently surging — reports are increasing rapidly. It has been reported across US, CA. Last updated 2026-04-04.
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Help someone avoid this scam.
Scammers succeed because people do not talk about it. If you or someone you know has been affected, there is no shame in it — it happens to millions of people every year. Share this page with friends and family so they know what to look for.