Romance scam warning signs in 2026

The 7 romance scam warning signs to watch in 2026

1. Love bombing. Strong romantic declarations within days or weeks, before you've met.
2. No video calls. They always have an excuse to avoid a live video call — bad connection, deployed military, oil rig.
3. Requests for money or crypto. Any request for money, gift cards, or cryptocurrency is a major red flag.
4. A sudden emergency. A medical crisis, customs fee, or travel problem that only you can solve with money.
5. Too good to be true. Model-quality photos, a tragic backstory, and rapid emotional intimacy.
6. Pressure to leave the app. Urgent requests to move to WhatsApp, Telegram, or email, where the dating platform can't flag scams.
7. Inconsistent or stolen photos. Reverse image search reveals the photos belong to someone else.

How much romance scams cost — the numbers

According to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, consumers reported losing a record $1.14 billion to romance scams in 2023. Median individual losses in romance scams are among the highest of any fraud category, and reported losses have risen each year. Many victims never report, so real losses are likely higher.

What to do if you see these signs

• Stop sending money immediately and do not send more.
• Run a reverse image search on the profile photos.
• Insist on a live video call; a genuine person can usually manage one.
• Report the profile to the dating platform and to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.