Romance / Emotional Scams – WATCH FOR RED FLAGS

Romance and emotional scams are at record highs, with victims losing over $1.3 billion in 2025. These scams, often involving AI-powered deepfakes and fake investment opportunities, saw a median loss of $2,000 per victim in 2023.

Senior adults, over 60-years-old, are highly targeted, especially widows. These crimes account for massive financial losses, and often leave the victims penniless. Unfortunately, many cases are not reported, because of the shame and embarrassment felt by the victim. But, you should never be ashamed if you are an innocent victim. The evil people who perpetrate these crimes will never be stopped, if you do not report your losses.

MAIN “RED FLAGS” to look for when meeting a new person online and even at a live social gathering:

Always be skeptical of ANYONE asking for money. Never send money, cryptocurrency, or gift cards to someone you recently met, especially the only communication is online or by phone. Most scammers pretend to be in a “predicament” or “urgent situation,” and prey on innocent victims who believe they are in a healthy relationship.
Always be skeptical of people who “disappear” then contact you again. If the person re-connects with you after a substantial time of absence, be cautious. This is usually a way for scammers to target several victims at once, moving from person to person, testing to see who will respond.
Always be skeptical of anyone who is not willing to meet in-person and/or over online video meet-ups. This person may also agree to meet, but does not show, or constantly cancels. If the person with which you are communicating does not want to show his/her face, it is probably a scam.
The individual seems “in love” too early after you meet. Let’s face it… yes, we are beautiful, and we are a great catch for someone, but, be cautious if the person you are communicating with or just talking to over the phone seems too eager, or expresses love, to early in the relationship. We all know that true love usually is developed over time, not within a few dates or phone calls. This can be a “red flag” for scams, and just a “very needy” individual.
The person attempts to isolate you from friends and family. If the person wants to sweep you away during holidays that are usually spent with your family, or always finds something “better” for you to do, when you usually attend your grandkid’s sporting activities, this is a red flag and you may want to reconsider what the future holds with this person.
Your new friend may request inappropriate photos that could be used for extortion. Never send sexual photos over any digital communication channel! EVER!
This person is unwilling to answer many personal questions, and has very little friends. If you are in a romance with a man or woman who has lived 60+ years and has no friends, that is a BIG RED FLAG!
Be careful what you make public online; it can be used to target you. Social media is an amazing place to connect. However, if you post personal information, like when you are taking vacations, photos of the inside of your home, your license tag, your bank or any financial details, or any information that you would not normally share with a stranger, you are unknowingly setting yourself up for scams.

You can have a full, rewarding life in your senior years, — date, travel, and enjoy your friends and family — without fear. Your Knowledge is Your Power. Learn the “Red Flags” to look for, and when you spot them, be very cautious… or block that person from your life, and move on!

Key Statistics and Trends (2023-2026):

Total Losses:	Over $1.14 billion was lost in 2023, with projections showing losses exceeding $1.3 billion by early 2026.
Impact on Seniors:	Adults over 60 are the most impacted, with one report of 7,600 victims accounting for nearly $400 million in losses.
Median Loss:	The median loss per victim is approximately $2,000–$2,400.
Top Platforms:	Scammers frequently operate on Facebook (23%) and Instagram (13%).
Methodology:	Scammers often use “catfishing” (fake personas), with 27% of users reporting targeted attacks. Increasingly, they use AI to create more convincing scenarios.
2026 Stats:	Romance scams have led to $1.3 billion in losses this year (as of March 2026) with scammers creating fake dating sites to trick users into sharing personal and financial information.
Dating Sites:	Tinder is widely cited as having the highest volume of fake profiles and bots due to its massive user base, making it a prime target for scams, followed closely by Badoo. Other apps like Bumble are experiencing a rise in AI-generated fake profiles. Large, free, or swipe-based platforms generally have higher instances of bot activity compared to paid, curated sites
Common Romance Scams:	Love Bombing. In love bombing romance scams, fraudsters bombard their victim with uplifting messages, and expressions of unconditional love, and make the victim feel important and admired.
Is it a Bot?	To tell if a dating profile is a bot, look for instant, generic replies, suspiciously perfect or model-like photos, and a lack of personal details in the bio. Bots often try to move the conversation to other platforms like Telegram immediately and avoid video.