CHICAGO – The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is warning the public about online criminals posing as interested, romantic partners in order to exploit personal and financial information. The scheme is known as a romance scam or confidence fraud and occurs when a perpetrator deceives a victim into believing they have a close relationship. Online criminals frequently exploit victims by asking for money, personal information, items of value, and money laundering on their behalf.
In 2024, the FBI received 17,910 reports of romance scams to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) resulting in a total loss of $672,009,052 nationally. While romance scammers have been known to target women over 40 who are divorced, widowed, elderly, or disabled, criminals do not discriminate. These schemes are often romantic in nature, but perpetrators may also develop friendly and familial relationships in order to gain a victim’s trust.
The FBI urges the public to consider the following tips and beware of common red flags:
Go slow and ask questions.
If you suspect an online relationship is a scam, stop all contact immediately.
Never send money to someone you met online and have not met in person.
Never share your Social Security number or other personally identifiable information.
Research the individual’s picture and profile using other online search tools.
If you are planning to meet someone in person, proceed with caution, especially if you plan to travel to a foreign country.
Be careful what you post and make public online as scammers can use details shared on social media and dating sites to better understand and target you.
If you haven’t met the individual in person after a few months, you have good reason to be suspicious.
Victims of romance scams are asked to stop communication and immediately report suspicious online activity to www.IC3.gov. The FBI recognizes that this crime is often perceived as embarrassing or difficult to report due to the intense, personal nature of the scam. With a report, the FBI can work directly with local law enforcement and financial institutions to secure the safe return of financial losses.
For more information, visit www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/scams-and-safety/common-frauds-and-scams/romance-scams.
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