Common types of romance scams
Scammers pose as military personnel stationed overseas, claiming they need financial help for leave, medical expenses, or travel to visit you.
By posing as military personnel, scammers can create a believable persona that garners sympathy and trust. This tactic also provides a convenient excuse for why they can't meet in person, as they claim to be deployed in remote locations.
The scammer builds a relationship and then asks for money to cover travel expenses to visit the victim. They may claim to be stuck in a foreign country and need funds to return home.
After establishing trust, the scammer pretends to have a sudden medical emergency or claims a family member is ill, asking you for money to cover medical bills.
After building an emotional connection, the scammer tries to convince you to invest in a fake business, investment or cryptocurrency scheme, often promising high returns. Find out more about investment scams.
The scammer claims to have inherited a large sum of money but needs your help to access it, often asking for money to pay legal fees or taxes.
Tips to spot & deal with romance scams
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Be suspicious of
- Anyone you meet online. Romance scammers can be found anywhere but most commonly make contact through social media platforms, chat rooms, unsolicited emails or dating websites.
- Online relationships that get intense quickly. Romance scammers aim to create an emotional connection quickly, so be wary of declarations of love or strong emotions shortly after meeting online.
- Requests for money. Romance scammers will often request money for flights, transport or accommodation to meet in person.
- Personal crises that might be solved with money. Romance scammers might not directly ask for money, they may appeal to your empathy by talking about challenges like health, family, or business troubles.
- Reluctance to meet or speak face to face. Scammers using a fake identity will often make repeated excuses to avoid face-to-face meetings or video calls.
- Requests to deposit money. By moving money for someone you've met online, you could unknowingly be involved in money laundering or other illegal activities.
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Do your checks
- Try a reverse image search to see if the person's images are stolen from another person or source online. You can do this through Google Image search. Click on the camera icon, then enter the image link or upload a copy from your computer.
- Look for inconsistencies in communication style. Some scams involve a team of scammers posing as the same person.
- Look for discrepancies in the information they're telling you.
- Check any contact details given to you. If they only provide a post office address and/or a phone number which they never answer, it could be a scam.
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Act with confidence
- Be careful about who you communicate with online, and have a healthy sense of scepticism for people you have never met in person.
- Don't send money to someone you've met online.
- Don't engage with hints alluding to requests for money.
- Stop communication immediately if:
- Someone you've met online asks you to open a new bank account or use an existing one to receive funds.
- You feel something is off, or you feel unsafe.
- If you think you — or someone close to you — might be caught in a romance scam, don’t wait. Call your us immediately for support and advice.
Scammers change their tactics regularly
Visit latest scams to stay across current risks and tips to protect yourself.
Helpful resources
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