Romance and online friendship scams
A new online friend or sweetheart asks for money.
How it works
A scammer builds a friendship or romance on a dating site, social media, or a text that seemed like a wrong number. They often say they work overseas, on an oil rig, or in the military. After weeks of sweet talk, there's an emergency or an 'investment' and they need money.
What it might look like
"My darling, I want to come see you but my bank account is frozen. If you can send $2,000 in Bitcoin I will pay you back as soon as I arrive."
Red flags
- They can never video chat or meet in person.
- They talk about love very quickly.
- They ask for money, gift cards, or crypto, or offer investment tips.
- They ask you to keep the relationship private.
What to do
- Never send money to someone you haven't met in person.
- Talk to a friend or family member about it.
- Do a reverse image search of their photos.
- Stop contact and report the profile to the site.