Romance scammers create fake profiles on dating sites and apps, or contact their targets through popular social media sites like Instagram, Facebook, or Google Hangouts. The scammers strike up a relationship with their targets to build their trust, sometimes talking or chatting several times a day.

How does a romance scammer work?

A romance scam, also known as an online dating scam, is when a person is tricked into believing theyre in a romantic relationship with someone they met online. In fact, their “other half” is a cybercriminal using a fake identity to gain enough of their victims trust to ask — or blackmail — them for money.

What are dating and romance scams?

Scammers take advantage of people looking for romantic partners, often via dating websites, apps or social media by pretending to be prospective companions. They play on emotional triggers to get you to provide money, gifts or personal details.

How do romance scams start?

While many people report losing money on romance scams that start on dating apps, even more say they were targeted on social media. These social media users arent always looking for love, and report that the scam often starts with an unexpected friend request or message.