Romance scam warning signs: what scammers say and what to do

Scam guide · Updated October 27, 2026

The short answer

A romance scam is when someone builds a relationship with you to get your money. The FTC's bottom line: never send money or gifts to a sweetheart you haven't met in person. (FTC)

How it usually goes

The FTC says the scammer strikes up a relationship to build trust, sometimes chatting several times a day, then wants to move to email, calls or messages off the platform where you met. Then they start asking for money. (FTC)

The lies the FTC says romance scammers tell

• They can't meet in person. They might say they're living or traveling outside the country, working on an oil rig, in the military, or working with an international organization.
• They need money. Once they have your trust, they ask for help paying medical expenses, a ticket to visit you, a visa, or fees to get out of trouble. They may even offer to help you get started in cryptocurrency investing.
• They tell you how to pay. The FTC says they want money in a way that's hard to get back: wire transfers, gift cards with the PIN codes, money transfer apps or cryptocurrency.

If you suspect one

1. Stop communicating with the person.
2. Talk to someone you trust. The FTC suggests asking whether friends or family are concerned about your new love interest.
3. Search online for the person's claimed job plus the word “scammer,” for example “oil rig scammer” or “US Army scammer,” and see whether others have posted similar stories.
4. Do a reverse image search of the profile picture. The FTC says a photo tied to another name or mismatched details is a sign of a scam.

If you already sent money

The FTC says that if you paid with a gift card, wire transfer, credit or debit card, or cryptocurrency, contact the company or your bank right away, tell them you paid a scammer and ask for a refund. Report it to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov, and tell the site or app where you met the person. (FTC)

Common questions

What is the number one way to avoid a romance scam?

The FTC says never to send money or gifts to a sweetheart you haven't met in person.

What do romance scammers ask for?

The FTC says they ask for help with medical expenses, a ticket to visit you, a visa or fees to get out of trouble, and may offer to help you start investing in cryptocurrency.

How can I check if someone's photos are real?

The FTC suggests a reverse image search of the profile picture. If it's tied to another name or details that don't match, that's a sign of a scam.

Where do I report a romance scam?

Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and tell the social networking site or app where you met the scammer.

Related: the gift card scam, the “Hi Mom” new number scam, the AI voice clone scam, how to help your parents avoid scams and how to report a scam text.

ScamSensor isn't affiliated with the Federal Trade Commission. Source: FTC Consumer Advice, read October 27, 2026.

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