Protect Your Heart – and Your Bank Account – from Romance Scams
Online dating has become increasingly popular, and many scammers are using that to their advantage by creating romantic schemes to steal financial and personal information from victims. Romance scams are a type of imposter scam that occurs when a fraudster creates a fake online identity to gain a victim’s trust and manipulate their target into giving them money or even gaining access to their financial accounts.
According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), consumers reported losing more than $1.1 billion to romance scams through the first three quarters of 2025. The Better Business Bureau ranked romance scams the No. 3 “riskiest scam” in its 2024 Scam Tracker Risk Report. The report showed romance scams had the highest median dollar loss of all scam types at $6,099.
Here are four ways to help identify, prevent, and protect against romance scams.
1. Do not send money.
If a love interest asks for money, they may ask you to send it as a gift card, online money transfer or cryptocurrency. When dating online, never send money or gifts to someone you have not met in person.
Sad stories are unfortunately often scam stories, so be wary of them. Scammers use various tactics, but many fall back on the lie that they need money because they or someone close to them is sick, injured or in jail. According to the FTC, that was the most common lie reported by victims. Other common lies used include “I can teach you how to invest,” “I’m in the military far away” and “I need help with an important delivery.”
2. Do your research.
If you are unsure about a new online love interest, there are ways to analyze the user’s pictures to spot a fake profile. According to the FTC, having only one or two photos may be a sign that the scammer is withholding information, as well as posting pictures that look too perfect, such as stock images. You can always do a reverse image search of the person’s profile picture to see if it’s connected to any other names or profiles online.
If you are chatting with someone you just met online, never share your personal information, including your last name, location or place of employment because scammers may use this against you.
3. Pass along these tips.
While you may not be online dating, you might know a friend or family member who is. All age groups are vulnerable to romance scams, but older adults are often targeted more by scammers because they typically have more assets and are less familiar with the online dating world. If you have a parent, grandparent or loved one you are concerned about, share these tips with them and offer to help them look into anything they are unsure about.
4. Report scams that occur.
If you suspect that a new love interest has malicious intentions, make sure to report them to the dating site or app you are using. If you suspect you have mistakenly sent money to a scammer, immediately contact your bank or the company that you used to send the money. Make sure to report your experience to the FTC at www.reportfraud.ftc.gov.
Exercise caution in online relationships and avoid disclosing personal or sensitive information. When in doubt, ask a family member or friend to help you determine the best course of action. Learn about other types of imposter scams at www.ftc.gov/imposterscams.
Barbara White is an executive vice president and sales manager for Arvest Bank - Greater Kansas City.
With more than $27 billion in assets, Arvest is a full-service bank that delivers financial solutions to individuals and businesses of all sizes. Since entering the Kansas City market in 2009, Arvest has grown to become one of the top 20 banks and the sixth-largest mortgage lender in the region. The bank has 20 locations in the metro area. Arvest is an Equal Housing Lender and Member FDIC.
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