A romance scam may begin on a dating service, social network, game or messaging app. The person invests time in the relationship before introducing a crisis, investment or travel problem.
Warning signs
- Strong feelings develop unusually quickly.
- There is always a reason a video call or meeting cannot happen.
- Stories contain repeated emergencies or inconsistencies.
- Money is requested for travel, medical treatment, customs, investment or release fees.
- You are encouraged to keep the relationship or payments secret.
If you are concerned
Stop sending money and do not pay a fee to recover earlier payments. Save the profile, messages, images and payment records. Contact the bank and report the account to the platform.
Helping somebody else
Do not ridicule the relationship or demand an immediate confession. Scammers deliberately isolate people and create emotional dependence. Ask calm questions, focus on specific inconsistencies and offer to check the facts together.
Support someone after a scam without blame