A romance scam, also known as an online dating scam, is when a person is tricked into believing theyre in a romantic relationship with someone they met online. In fact, their “other half” is a cybercriminal using a fake identity to gain enough of their victims trust to ask — or blackmail — them for money.

What are the signs of a romance scammer?

Romance scammers profess love quickly, without actually meeting you. Often times, the first sign of an online dating scam shows up when a romance scammer expresses strong emotions in a relatively short period of time.

What are common romance scams?

Romance scammers create fake profiles on dating sites and apps, or contact their targets through popular social media sites like Instagram, Facebook, or Google Hangouts. The scammers strike up a relationship with their targets to build their trust, sometimes talking or chatting several times a day.

Are romance scams illegal?

Perpetrating an online romance scam can lead to criminal charges in federal court. This is especially true if the scam occurs across state lines or across international borders. The federal government has laws prohibiting Internet Fraud, identity theft, and bank fraud, among many other criminal laws.