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in Scam Awareness
theedgemalaysia.com
· 2025-12-08
A cybercriminal group earned US$46 million from deepfake romance scams targeting men across Asia, including cases like an 80-year-old Malaysian widow losing RM30,000 to an AI-generated video mimicking a Chinese celebrity. In 2024, Malaysians lost US$12.8 billion to scams overall, with deepfake technology making it increasingly difficult to distinguish genuine online dating profiles despite facial verification features. The article advises victims to avoid unverified investment advice from online contacts, refrain from sharing personal information early in conversations, and limit location sharing to protect against emotional manipulation and physical safety threats.
fox40.com
· 2025-12-08
A California man, Fabrisio Arias, was sentenced to 41 months in federal prison for his role in an international sweepstakes fraud scheme targeting elderly Americans between November 2020 and September 2022. Operating with co-conspirators in Costa Rica, Arias received fraudulent payments from 22 victims (many in their 70s-90s) who were tricked into paying fake taxes or fees to claim non-existent prizes, with perpetrators impersonating IRS and FTC officials using spoofed phone numbers. Arias was ordered to pay $395,536 in restitution after laundering over $395,000 through his bank accounts, keeping
nbcbayarea.com
· 2025-12-08
A Bay Area woman lost over $400,000 in life savings after receiving a fraudulent text claiming unauthorized pornography purchases on her accounts, which prompted her to call scammers who used fear tactics to gain access to her finances. The incident highlights a gap in California consumer protection laws, as Governor Newsom previously rejected a bill that would have allowed banks to delay transactions and notify account holders, similar to protections already in place in Florida.
ice.gov
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams are confidence schemes where perpetrators build trust with victims to extract money through false pretenses. Nearly 70,000 Americans reported being victims in 2022, with older adults losing approximately $240 million that year; scammers commonly use red flags such as claims of foreign locations, requests for video call avoidance, inconsistent stories, and demands for payment via cryptocurrency, gift cards, or wire transfers. Protection strategies include remaining suspicious of unsolicited contact, verifying identities through independent means, and never sharing personal information or sending money to online contacts, particularly those who quickly profess love or request alternative communication platforms.
kauainownews.com
· 2025-12-08
The County of Kauaʻi Agency on Elderly Affairs, in partnership with multiple state agencies through Kupuna Alert Partners, is hosting a free fraud and scam prevention presentation to address a rising tide of scams targeting seniors, particularly romance scams ahead of Valentine's Day. Romance scams involve criminals creating fake online identities to build trust with victims over weeks or months before soliciting money through fabricated emergencies, often requesting payment via mail, wire transfers, or gift cards. The presentation will cover Medicare fraud, securities fraud, identity theft, and prescription drug misuse prevention, with the U.S. Postal Service emphasizing caution against online relationships that escalate quickly and recommending victims never
finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams targeting older Americans have surged, with fraudsters impersonating celebrities like Keanu Reeves, Jason Momoa, and Sandra Bullock to build fake emotional relationships and extract money. The scams exploit loneliness among seniors, with victims losing an average of $35,000 each, as demonstrated by a recent case where someone lost over $800,000 in a Brad Pitt impersonation scam. Charlie, a banking service for Americans 62+, released this data to educate seniors on red flags including rapid professions of love, avoidance of in-person meetings, fabricated emergencies, and requests for secrecy.
businesswire.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams targeting older Americans have surged, with fraudsters impersonating celebrities like Keanu Reeves, Jason Momoa, Sandra Bullock, and Ryan Reynolds to build fake emotional relationships and extract money. Charlie, a banking service for seniors, released this data to raise awareness that scammers exploit lonely older adults through online dating sites and social media, fabricating crises to pressure victims into sending money—with one victim losing over $800,000 in a Brad Pitt impersonation scam. Seniors can protect themselves by recognizing warning signs including rapid professions of love, avoidance of in-person meetings, fabricated emergencies, and requests for
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
A Seattle senior was defrauded of $435,000 by two brothers, Patrick and Matthew McDonagh, who convinced him his roof and foundation needed urgent repairs and then pressured him into ongoing payments for work that was never completed or unnecessary. The victim paid through checks and wire transfers over several weeks; he was able to recover $200,000 through a wire transfer reversal, but the outcome of recovering additional funds remains unclear. The McDonagh brothers pleaded guilty to federal wire fraud charges and were sentenced to 18 months in prison, and the case highlights how door-to-door home repair scams disproportionately target seniors, who reported $3.4 billion in frau
recordnet.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scammers intensify their tactics around Valentine's Day, using social media research and emotional manipulation to build trust with victims before requesting money, gift cards, or cryptocurrency. Scammers employ various schemes including fabricated emergencies (medical bills, travel costs, equipment damage) and increasingly sophisticated methods like Bitcoin transactions, while also resorting to blackmail and threats. Experts advise vigilance across all communication channels and recommend contacting local law enforcement if victimized, noting that while elderly individuals were traditionally targeted, younger people are now also vulnerable to these evolving scams.
cullmantimes.com
· 2025-12-08
This educational piece from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service warns about romance scams, which exploit people seeking companionship by building trust online before requesting money through mail, wire transfers, or gift cards. The article outlines how scammers create fake identities and fabricate emergencies to solicit funds, and provides protective measures including avoiding rapid online relationships, verifying identities through in-person meetings, and never sending money to strangers. Victims are advised to report scams to USPIS, local law enforcement, and the Federal Trade Commission.
wcnc.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams have surged significantly, with BBB reporting a 13% increase in 2021 and more than double the cases in early 2022 compared to the prior year. Scammers create fake dating profiles using stolen photos and fabricate elaborate backstories (often claiming military or overseas work) to build fake relationships, eventually requesting money with increasingly persistent demands. The BBB advises potential dating app users to watch for red flags such as reluctance to meet in person, rapid declarations of love, requests to move off dating platforms, suspicious language patterns, and hard luck stories before money requests are made.
spdblotter.seattle.gov
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams cost victims over $1 billion in 2023 and $800 million in 2024, with scammers using fake personas and social media information to build trust before requesting money, cryptocurrency, or personal information. Older Americans are particularly vulnerable, with seniors losing an estimated $28.3 billion annually to financial exploitation. The FBI recommends verifying online identities, taking relationships slowly, never sending money to online-only contacts, and remaining cautious of requests to move communication offline or claims of overseas emergencies.
sahanjournal.com
· 2025-12-08
In October 2023, Dennis from Maplewood lost $20,000 in a grandparent scam when callers impersonated his grandson and a public defender, claiming he needed bail money for a car accident, followed by a second request for $15,000 for a manslaughter settlement. The article reports that fraud victimizes billions of dollars annually from U.S. consumers, with Minnesota alone receiving over 22,000 fraud reports totaling nearly $103 million in losses during the first three quarters of 2024, and notes that recovery options remain limited. AARP Minnesota is advocating for a state Consumer Fraud Restitution Fund financed by civil penalties
cftc.gov
· 2025-12-08
The CFTC and multiple federal, state, and nonprofit organizations launched the "Dating or Defrauding?" awareness campaign to alert Americans to relationship investment scams, which caused nearly $4 billion in reported losses to the FBI in 2023. These scams, also called "pig butchering," use fake profiles on dating apps, social media, and messaging platforms to build false relationships and convince victims to invest in fraudulent cryptocurrency or trading platforms. The campaign identifies red flags including requests for payment, inability to meet in person, and pressure to move conversations to encrypted apps, urging the public to be skeptical and share warnings with friends and family.
wisbusiness.com
· 2025-12-08
Tax scams reappear seasonally with scammers impersonating the IRS through phone calls, emails, and mail to pressure victims into paying fake debts or divulging personal information for identity theft. Common schemes include threatening arrest for unpaid taxes, claiming refunds are owed, using fake IRS logos and spoofed caller IDs, and sending phishing emails directing victims to bogus websites. To protect yourself, file taxes early, remember that the IRS initiates contact by mail only, never accepts prepaid debit cards or wire transfers for payment, and verify any IRS communication directly with the agency.
fox26houston.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated, with cybersecurity experts warning of a rise in AI-deepfake-assisted schemes, particularly around Valentine's Day; McAfee blocked over 321,000 malicious romance-related URLs between December 2024 and January 2025, and one victim in France lost $850,000 to a scammer using deepfake images of Brad Pitt who posed as the actor over 18 months. Texas ranks third nationally for romance scam losses at over $114 million from 2022-2023, and experts advise being cautious of suspicious online profiles, overly quick declarations of love, requests for money, and fake Valentine's shopping ads with
click2houston.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI Houston issued a Valentine's Day safety guide warning about romance scams, in which fraudsters quickly build fake online relationships and eventually request money by claiming emergencies or business expenses abroad. The guide advises potential victims to be cautious about what they share online, verify profiles through reverse image searches, watch for excuses to avoid in-person meetings, and never send money to people they've only met online. Victims are encouraged to cease contact with scammers and report incidents to the FBI immediately.
newsweek.com
· 2025-12-08
The FBI warned of rising romance scams ahead of Valentine's Day, with victims losing $1.14 billion in 2023 according to the FTC. Scammers create fake profiles on dating apps and social media, build trust quickly, and manipulate victims—sometimes impersonating celebrities or military personnel—to send money or invest in cryptocurrency, with one victim losing $850,000 to a scammer posing as Brad Pitt. Red flags include requests for money, reluctance to meet in person or video chat, and inconsistent stories; prevention through identity verification and caution about rapidly escalating relationships is the best defense.
goldrushcam.com
· 2025-12-08
Fabrisio Arias was sentenced to 41 months in prison and ordered to pay $395,536 in restitution to 22 victims for his role in an international sweepstakes scam that operated from November 2020 to September 2022. Scammers in Costa Rica used spoofed phone numbers to impersonate IRS and FTC officials, convincing elderly victims (many in their 70s-90s) that they'd won prizes and needed to pay fees; Arias received the victims' checks and money orders at his California home, laundered the funds through his bank accounts, and transferred over $237,000 to co-conspi
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-08
The Grandparent Scam is a fraud scheme where criminals pose as a relative—typically a grandchild—claiming to need immediate financial assistance to exploit seniors' emotional attachments and trust. Seniors are targeted because they tend to be trusting, have financial resources, and may be reluctant to report fraud due to shame or fear of losing family confidence. To protect themselves, seniors should resist pressure to act quickly, verify caller information with family members, never wire money based on phone or email requests, and report suspicious calls to local police or the FBI.
cbs6albany.com
· 2025-12-08
Harmish Patel, 26, of Illinois was indicted for his role in a multi-state gold bullion scam targeting an elderly couple in Brunswick, New York, between December 2023 and March 2024. Patel allegedly conspired with others to transport fraudulently obtained gold bullion across state lines from New York to New Jersey on multiple occasions. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
readwrite.com
· 2025-12-08
Scammers used AI-generated deepfake audio to impersonate Italy's Defense Minister Guido Crosetto and target wealthy professionals, including fashion executives and billionaires, claiming money was needed to secure the release of journalists kidnapped in the Middle East. At least one victim, billionaire Massimo Moratti, confirmed transferring an unspecified sum before discovering the deception. The scheme represents a growing trend of AI-generated deepfake audio being used to defraud high-profile individuals and executives out of substantial sums.
news24.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams and cyber threats targeting couples are increasing around Valentine's Day, with 43% of people in committed relationships feeling pressured to share logins and passcodes. The article details cautionary tales like Nkateko Dladla's experience with investment fraud via a dating app, highlighting how scammers use "love-bombing" and social engineering to exploit trust and manipulate victims into financial schemes. Experts recommend couples maintain individual accounts and passwords, avoid sharing sensitive information, use password managers, and prioritize open communication about online safety to protect themselves from these threats.
racq.com.au
· 2025-12-08
In 2024, RACQ Bank identified marketplace scams, remote access scams, and investment scams as the most prevalent threats to its members, with investment scams causing the largest financial losses; Queenslanders reported over $51 million lost across 46,734 scams during the year. Scammers primarily used phishing tactics via text, phone calls, pop-ups, and social media, with one in four Queenslanders contacted by suspected scammers yet 86% unaware of reporting options. RACQ Bank recommends members practice "stop, check and report" protocols and access the Be Connected program, an Australian Government initiative offering free online courses to help older
greatyarmouthmercury.co.uk
· 2025-12-08
Great Yarmouth Police organized a scam awareness event following an incident in which an elderly woman lost a large sum of money to courier fraud, where scammers impersonated police, bank officials, and other authority figures to trick her into withdrawing cash over several weeks. The educational event, held at Age Connected on February 12, aims to help the public recognize and avoid similar fraudulent schemes.
mystratfordnow.com
· 2025-12-08
A West Perth resident lost $3,000 to a text scam on February 7 after receiving a message from someone impersonating their daughter requesting urgent financial help. Perth OPP launched an investigation into the fraud and advises the public to verify requests through direct contact with family members, be wary of urgent demands, and never send money to unverified persons.
ag.state.mn.us
· 2025-12-08
Brandon Michael Ferguson and his asphalt company, Community Blacktop LLC (operating under multiple aliases), defrauded consumers across Minnesota and nationwide by quoting low prices for asphalt work, then delivering substandard results and demanding inflated bills multiple times the original quote—with one victim quoted $2,000-$3,000 charged $17,000 instead. The Minnesota Attorney General reached a settlement requiring the company to dissolve and pay $100,000 in restitution to victims, with Ferguson admitting to procuring work through fraud and violating consumer protection laws. The AG urges victims to contact his office to help identify affected consumers, as poor recordkeeping makes tracking
wktv.com
· 2025-12-08
The U.S. Postal Service warns consumers about romance scams that intensify around Valentine's Day, in which fraudsters create fake online identities to build trust with victims over weeks or months before fabricating financial emergencies and requesting money, gift cards, or checks sent through the mail. These scams cause both financial and emotional harm, with victims often unable to recover their funds once the fraud is discovered. USPS recommends avoiding rapid online relationships without in-person or video contact, never sending money to people you haven't met, and reporting suspicious behavior immediately.
mynorthwest.com
· 2025-12-08
Seattle Police issued a Valentine's Day warning about romance scams, where perpetrators build fake relationships to trick victims into sending money or personal information. According to the Federal Trade Commission, romance scam victims lost over $1 billion in 2023 and $800 million in 2024, with older Americans particularly vulnerable; the FBI and SPD recommend using reputable dating sites, moving slowly in relationships, never sending money to online contacts, and reporting suspected scams to authorities immediately.
mylethbridgenow.com
· 2025-12-08
Lethbridge County FCSS is hosting an educational session in Coaldale on scams and fraud prevention from a banking perspective, following positive reception from a previous session in Barons where seniors requested additional information on this topic. The program aims to help older adults protect themselves against increasingly sophisticated scams through community awareness and education. The session is part of an ongoing Senior Speakers Series held monthly across the county's communities.
prnewswire.com
· 2025-12-08
New York's StateWide Senior Action Council identified Medicare card scams as their February fraud alert, warning seniors that Medicare does not issue new cards annually and scammers exploit this by calling to collect personal medical information or promoting fraudulent "upgraded" cards. Seniors should verify suspicious calls directly with Medicare (1-800-MEDICARE) and protect their Medicare and Social Security numbers like credit cards, reporting suspected fraud to the NY Senior Medicare Patrol Helpline at 800-333-4374.
techtimes.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams have become increasingly sophisticated with the use of generative AI and deepfake technology, with scammers using AI-crafted personalized messages and realistic videos to deceive victims. Over $46 million has been stolen across Taiwan, Singapore, and India through these scams, which particularly target vulnerable groups including the elderly, former military members, and those seeking financial connections, often through tactics like fake investment schemes ("pig butchering") that build trust over weeks before requesting money. Recovery of stolen funds is extremely difficult, especially with cryptocurrency, and victims are cautioned to verify identities and never send money to people they haven't met in person who request payment.
columbiatribune.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scammers are increasing their efforts targeting Missourians around Valentine's Day by posing as military personnel, overseas businesspeople, or professionals on dating apps and social media, then requesting money for emergencies or travel under false pretenses. The Missouri Secretary of State warns that these emotionally and financially devastating scams build trust gradually before exploiting victims, and recommends skepticism of quick declarations of love, avoiding money transfers to unmet contacts, conducting reverse image searches, and reporting suspected scams to authorities.
wtol.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance and confidence scams are rising in Ohio and nationwide, with fraudsters creating fake profiles on dating sites and social media to build trust before requesting money, gift cards, cryptocurrency, or valuable items under false pretenses such as medical emergencies or legal fees. Ohioans lost over $15.3 million to these scams in 2023, while nationwide losses exceeded $652 million in romance fraud complaints and $823 million in 2024, with scammers primarily targeting women over 40 who are divorced, widowed, elderly, or disabled. The FBI and Ohio Department of Commerce advise the public to remain vigilant online, avoid sending money to unknown contacts, and verify investment tips through
cbs8.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams using stolen photos are expected to surge around Valentine's Day 2025, with fraudsters building fake relationships to extract money from victims. The FTC reported Americans lost $1.14 billion to romance scams in 2023, with California accounting for $100.6 million in losses across 2,024 victims; scammers now use AI technology to create increasingly convincing deepfakes and video impersonations. Experts recommend using reverse image searches, insisting on video verification, avoiding quick declarations of love, and never sending money to online acquaintances.
dos.ny.gov
· 2025-12-08
**Romance Scams Warning for Valentine's Day**
New York's Department of Consumer Protection warned residents about romance scams ahead of Valentine's Day, noting that New Yorkers lost over $25 million to such scams in 2024, with older adults—particularly widows, widowers, and recent divorcees—being commonly targeted. Scammers use fake online profiles and build trust over weeks or months before requesting money for various pretexts, often starting with small amounts and escalating to larger sums. Effective February 19, 2025, a new state law requires online dating platforms to notify users who have been targeted by banned scammers and to delete user
fox10tv.com
· 2025-12-08
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission launched the "Dating or Defrauding" awareness campaign to warn Americans about relationship investment scams, in which fraudsters use fake dating profiles and text messages to trick victims into converting money to cryptocurrency under the false promise of investment returns. These scams caused reported losses exceeding $4 billion to the FBI in 2023 and target people of all ages, particularly those who live alone or spend significant time on social media. The campaign advises never sending money to people you haven't met in person and recommends reporting suspected fraud through the CFTC or FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.
nbcbayarea.com
· 2025-12-08
A phishing scam falsely claiming to be from Costco targeted consumers with emails offering a free Ninja CREAMi Ice Cream Maker in exchange for completing a survey, with the intent to steal financial information or gain unauthorized computer access. The fraudulent emails originated from "@handtoneed.net" rather than an official Costco domain, and the Sonoma County District Attorney's office advised consumers to verify sender email addresses and avoid clicking suspicious links.
poconorecord.com
· 2025-12-08
Skimming scams—where criminals install devices on ATMs, point-of-sale terminals, and fuel pumps to steal card data—increased 96% in 2023 and cost U.S. consumers over $1 billion annually. Recent law enforcement operations have targeted organized crime groups, including a three-year FBI investigation resulting in 48 arrests and recovery of over 8,000 stolen credit card numbers. The FBI advises consumers to inspect card readers for tampering, use chip/tap-to-pay technology, pull at keypads for overlays, monitor accounts regularly, and choose fuel pumps visible to attendants.
cnet.com
· 2025-12-08
In 2023, people lost $10 billion to fraud according to FTC data, but consumers can protect themselves by recognizing common banking scams. The article outlines ten prevalent scam tactics—including check-cashing schemes, phishing, fake websites, advance fee fraud, and government imposter scams—and provides specific protective strategies such as verifying bank URLs, never clicking unsolicited links, using secure checks, and contacting official customer service lines to confirm requests.
local.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
**Summary:**
Romance scams represent the highest financial loss among all fraud types, with older adults particularly vulnerable due to isolation, loneliness, and lower tech awareness, according to an AARP presentation by Assistant U.S. Attorney Avi Panth. Red flags include scammers misrepresenting their identity, building trust quickly, requesting money via gift cards or cryptocurrency, and pressuring victims to keep the relationship secret. The best defense is skepticism, thorough research of online romantic interests, taking time before committing emotionally or financially, and reporting suspected scams to local authorities or www.ic3.gov.
vernonmatters.ca
· 2025-12-08
Kelowna RCMP reported a surge in grandparent scams targeting local residents, with multiple victims losing over $20,000 combined. Scammers impersonated grandchildren or lawyers claiming the grandchild had been arrested and needed bail money, then arranged to pick up the cash at designated locations or victims' homes. Police urged residents to be cautious of unsolicited money requests.
digit.in
· 2025-12-08
A 37-year-old man from Delhi lost Rs 11 lakh in a work-from-home job scam that began with a WhatsApp message offering easy tasks and evolved into a fake trading scheme requiring prepaid investments. The scammers initially built trust by paying small amounts and commissions, then demanded increasingly larger payments under the guise of completing final tasks before allowing withdrawals. The victim filed a police complaint after realizing the fraud and the article advises verifying employer legitimacy, never paying upfront fees, and reporting suspicious offers immediately.
dnronline.com
· 2025-12-08
Online scammers target people of all ages and backgrounds, not just seniors, with Americans losing $10 billion to fraud in 2023, according to Park View Federal Credit Union officials. Common scam tactics include creating false urgency, impersonating legitimate organizations (banks, the IRS, Norton Antivirus), and using AI to mimic voices in grandparent schemes, though one customer recovered $250 after scammers gained access to her account. Key defenses include pausing before clicking links, recognizing red flags like grammar errors and mismatched email addresses, and remembering that legitimate financial institutions will never request passwords or usernames.
bangkokpost.com
· 2025-12-08
The Royal Thai Police established an investigative committee to examine alleged connections between senior officers in the border province of Tak and criminal activity in Myanmar, following the transfer of five officers pending investigation. The investigation focuses on whether police facilitated the disappearance of Chinese tourists who were lured by call centre scammers operating from Myawaddy into Myanmar for fraudulent work schemes. The government has simultaneously cut electricity and internet services to suspected scam centers along the border, resulting in the return of 261 foreigners from Myanmar to Thailand.
thefintechtimes.com
· 2025-12-08
According to the Federal Trade Commission, romance scams have caused over $1.14 billion in losses, with victims losing an average of $2,000 each, and criminals are now using AI-generated deepfakes and synthetic identities to make these scams more convincing and personalized. Debbie Fox, a widow seeking companionship, was defrauded of $58,000 by a scammer using a fake identity who posed as a man named Russell and eventually requested money claiming to be in legal trouble. As generative AI becomes mainstream, fraudsters are increasingly exploiting the technology to automate romance scams, phishing attacks, and impersonation schemes, making them harder to
wrdw.com
· 2025-12-08
Cody Lee Anderson, 37, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud for his role in manipulating an 88-year-old Aiken woman into signing a will during the pandemic that left her approximately $20 million estate to co-conspirator Thomas Allen Bateman Jr., despite evidence she lacked mental capacity to make informed decisions. Anderson, who was designated as personal representative and stood to receive a 5% fee, faces up to 30 years in federal prison, a $1 million fine, and five years of supervision; his co-conspirator Bateman also pleaded guilty and is scheduled for sentencing in March 2025.
kingstonpolice.ca
· 2025-12-08
Kingston Police reported a significant increase in "grandparent" or "emergency" scams, with 15 reports received on February 11, 2025 alone. These scams target seniors by impersonating a grandchild in legal trouble and requesting $8,000-$9,000 in bail money via courier pickup, with scammers sometimes hiring legitimate courier companies unknowingly to transport the cash. Police emphasize that bail is never requested in cash and advise victims to verify caller identity through security questions, call back family members directly, and never send money to unknown persons.
states.aarp.org
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams are causing the highest financial losses of all fraud types, with older adults particularly vulnerable due to isolation, loneliness, and being targeted by scammers who exploit their assumed wealth and lower tech-savviness. Key red flags include fake identities, rapid declarations of love, requests for money via gift cards or cryptocurrency, and pressure to move off public sites and keep the relationship secret. Victims can protect themselves by developing skepticism, researching potential romantic interests thoroughly, taking time before committing emotionally or financially, and reporting incidents to authorities or contacting the AARP Fraud Watch Network.
aol.com
· 2025-12-08
Romance scams are increasingly targeting younger age groups (people in their 20s and 30s), with reported incidents shifting from primarily affecting those aged 50-59 in 2019 to younger demographics by 2023. According to the Federal Trade Commission, romance scams resulted in $469.9 million in losses across all age groups in 2023, more than double the $229.3 million lost in 2019. Scammers typically build emotional connections through dating sites and social media before requesting money or personal information, and victims should be wary of requests for financial help, unusual stories requiring assistance, and fake profiles or AI-generated images.