FBI warns of romance scams ahead of Valentine's Day
In a romance or confidence scam, the victim is led to believe they are in a trusting relationship, whether family, friendly or romantic, and is often tricked into sending money or personal information to someone who is a scammer. The scams begin when a criminal adopts a fake online identity as a way to gain the victim's trust and affection.
After building a relationship with the victim, the scammer will use the illusion or a romantic or close relationship to manipulate and steal from the victim. These criminals often come across as genuine, caring and believable and are noted to go through an intended victim's social media as a way to develop a connection quickly.
'Romance scammers are working to be your 'perfect match'; what might begin as a seemingly innocent connection can quickly turn sinister as criminals cash in on those looking for companionship,' Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Philadelphia, said. 'As always, we encourage the public to be mindful when forging a relationship online, exercise caution navigating the cyber landscape, and report suspected scams to the FBI.'
The FBI noted that cryptocurrency investment scams are on the rise, with the scammer asking the victim to make investments through scam sites and then cutting off contact with the victim, vanishing with the invested sums.
If you develop a romantic relationship with someone online the FBI recommends:
Think twice before you share personal information online. Scammers can use details shared on dating sites and social media platforms to better target victims
If you try online dating, only use dating sites with well-known reputations. Search people's photos and profiles online to see if anyone has used the names, images, or information elsewhere
Take the relationship slow and ask lots of questions
Beware if the person quickly asks you to leave a dating app or social media platform to go 'offline' — or tries to isolate you from friends and family
Never send money, cryptocurrency, or gift cards to anyone you've only communicated with online or by phone
Be particularly cautious if the person you're communicating with is overseas – often times scammers use overseas construction or military jobs as an excuse to not be able to meet in person
Scammers can fabricate things like medical emergencies that they need money to pay for, or if wanting to meet in person, request the victim pay for their airfare and travel upfront
If you or someone you know has fallen victim to a romance scam, file a complaint with the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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