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A fast-moving relationship, repeated excuses for not meeting, and a request for money can point to a romance scam—but no single behavior proves someone is a scammer. The clearest rule is simpler: do not send money or gifts to a love interest you have not met in person. Pause, check the story independently, and know what to do if you have already paid.
How romance scams commonly unfold
A scam can begin with a fake profile on a dating app or site. The person may quickly build intimacy through frequent messages, then suggest moving the conversation to email, phone, or another messaging service. They may claim to be far away for work or military service, or give another reason they cannot meet.
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Over time, the story may turn into a request for money or an investment pitch. The reason might be a medical bill, a ticket or visa to visit, a fee to get out of trouble, or some other urgent problem. Some scammers present cryptocurrency or stock investing as a way to help you make money. The pattern matters; moving off-app or being unable to meet, by itself, does not establish fraud.
Why can’t that new love interest meet in person?
Repeated cancellations and explanations for why an in-person meeting is impossible are warning signs worth taking seriously. The Federal Trade Commission’s February 2026 alert notes that AI and other technology can make scams harder to spot, but it does not provide a dependable test for determining whether a photo or message was AI-generated. A convincing image or fluent conversation is not proof of identity.
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The request for money is the point to stop
The FTC’s guidance is direct: “Never send money or gifts to a sweetheart you haven’t met in person.” Do not let an urgent story, professed affection, or a promise to repay override that rule. Be especially wary if the person asks for a wire transfer, gift-card numbers or PINs, a payment-app transfer, or cryptocurrency. These payments can be difficult to recover. Do not invest based on advice from a new online love interest.
Check the story without taking risks
Verification steps can surface inconsistencies, but none can certify that someone is genuine. Do not send money as a test or confront a suspected scammer to see how they react.
- Pause and get another perspective. Talk with a trusted friend or family member before acting. Take their concerns as a reason to slow down and review the story.
- Search the claimed job and “scammer.” The FTC suggests searches such as “oil rig scammer” or “US Army scammer.” Compare any results with what the person has told you.
- Reverse-image-search the profile photo. Look for the same image used with another name or details that do not match. Finding no match does not prove the photo or profile is authentic.
- Notice pressure to leave the app. A request to move to a private channel can be part of a scam approach, but it is a warning pattern—not proof on its own.
- If the story or request seems suspicious, stop communicating and report the account to the dating app or site where contact began.
What the latest reported-loss figures do—and do not—show
In an April 2026 data spotlight, the FTC reported that nearly 60% of people who said they lost money to a romance scam in 2025 and identified how contact began said it started on social media. The FTC also reported $298 million in losses in 2025 from romance scams that began on social media. These figures describe reported losses tied to social-media contact—not the share of dating-app matches that are scammers, and not all romance-scam losses.
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Contact the company or provider used for the payment immediately. Explain that it was fraud and ask whether a reversal or refund is possible; neither is guaranteed. Which provider to contact first depends on how you paid:
- Bank or credit-union transfer: Contact your bank or credit union and ask whether it can reverse the transfer.
- Payment app: Contact the app provider and ask about reversing the transaction. If it was linked to a card or bank account, contact that provider as well.
- Wire transfer: Contact the wire-transfer company and ask it to reverse the transfer.
- Credit or debit card: Contact the card issuer or bank and ask whether the charge can be disputed or reversed.
- Gift card: Contact the gift-card issuer. Keep the card and receipt if you have them; recovery can be difficult.
- Cryptocurrency: Contact the exchange or ATM operator you used. Crypto transfers can be difficult to recover.
Keep relevant receipts and messages, report the account to the dating platform, and file a report with the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. If the person accessed your accounts or personal information, the FTC’s What To Do if You Were Scammed guide provides further recovery steps.
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