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10 romance scam warning signs

The red flags that show up again and again in romance scams, from love-bombing and no video calls to money and crypto requests.

Romance scams cost people more per victim than almost any other scam. The FTC says romance scam reports in 2023 had a median loss of US$2,000, the highest of any imposter scam (FTC). In the UK the average reported loss in 2024/25 was £11,222 (City of London Police). Australians reported A$156.8M lost in 2024 (NASC).

The signs to watch for

  1. Very fast intensity. Declarations of love or talk of marriage within days or weeks.
  2. No live video. The camera is “broken”, the connection is bad, or calls keep getting cancelled.
  3. A job that keeps them away: overseas military, oil rig, ship, aid work or a foreign contract. The FTC lists these as typical excuses for never meeting (FTC).
  4. Moving you off the app to WhatsApp, Telegram or another private chat quickly.
  5. A sudden emergency: medical bills, customs fees, a frozen bank account, legal trouble. In 2022 FTC reports, 24% of romance scammers claimed they or a relative were sick, hurt or in jail (FTC).
  6. An investment “opportunity”. They’ve made money trading crypto and want to help you do it too (18% of 2022 FTC romance reports).
  7. Requests for gift cards, crypto, wire transfers or for you to receive and forward money for them.
  8. Photos that look professional or that appear elsewhere online under another name.
  9. Secrecy: asking you not to tell family or friends.
  10. Plans to meet that always fall through at the last minute.

What to do

Don’t send money to anyone you haven’t met in person. Ask for a live video call, reverse image search their photos (see our guide), and tell someone you trust. If you’ve already paid, call your bank first, then report it.

Not sure about someone?

Take the free 10-question red-flag check, or get an AI-powered Romance Scam Check for US$29.

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General information only, not legal or financial advice. ImposterWatch is operated by Cloud Investments FZE (UAE) and is not a background check or private investigator service.