--- title: What to Know About Romance Scams description: Imposters promise romance to users of online dating sites to trick them into sending money. Learn more about online romance imposter scams in this article. image: https://blog.rcsprofessional.com/hubfs/How%20to%20spot%20a%20romance%20scam.png --- [![RCS Professional Services](https://blog.rcsprofessional.com/hs-fs/hubfs/RCSProfessionalServices_November2019/images/logo.png?width=749&height=211&name=logo.png "RCS Professional Services")](https://blog.rcsprofessional.com/) [![Sign up for our Newsletter!](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/6409599/f350a29a-2630-4d11-a22d-1e1bcbc7cd14.png)](https://www.rcsprofessional.com/newsletter/) - [Back to Main Website](https://www.rcsprofessional.com) # What to Know About Romance Scams [February 9, 2023](https://blog.rcsprofessional.com/what-to-know-about-romance-scams) To find a partner, millions of people use social networking sites or dating applications. However, many people discover a scammer instead of a romantic who is attempting to con them into sending money. Read about the false narratives used by romance scammers and discover the best method to avoid one. ## **What Is a Romance Scam?** On a dating website or app, you happen to meet someone amazing. They're going to want to contact you via email, phone, or message soon. They claim to be in love, yet they are separated due to distance or their employment. Then they start requesting payment. Maybe it's for a flight to come see you, or immediate surgery, or a different pressing matter. Romance fraudsters may contact you through well-known social media platforms like Instagram or Facebook or build phony profiles on dating websites and apps. In order to gain your trust, the con artists establish a rapport with you by conversing with you frequently (sometimes multiple times each day). They then fabricate a tale in order to demand payment. A record $547 million in losses from romance scams were recorded by victims in 2021. That's an increase of nearly 80% above the reports the FTC received in 2020. Gift cards were the most popular form of payment for romance fraudsters in 2021, according to consumer reports. In accordance with the 2021 projections, bitcoin payments were the most expensive. ## **The Lies Romance Scammers Tell** Romance scammers modify their claims to fit the circumstances. - Scammers claim they can't personally meet with you. They can claim they're serving in the military, working with an international organization, living or traveling abroad, or working on an oil rig. - Scammers will demand money from you. Once they have earned your trust, they may seek assistance with paying for medical bills (for themselves or a family member), travel expenses to see you, visa fees, or fines to get them out of trouble. They might even offer to mentor you when you begin investing in cryptocurrencies. - Scammers will explain how to make a payment. Not just romance scammers, but all con artists want your money right away. They also make it difficult for you to obtain your money back. They'll advise you to send money via a money transfer app, wire funds via Western Union or MoneyGram, load funds onto gift cards (such as those from Amazon, Google Play, iTunes, or Steam) and provide the PIN codes, or send cryptocurrencies. These actions are taken by con artists to compel you to take immediate action and part with cash. However, it's a scam. ## **How to Avoid Losing Money to a Romance Scammer** The bottom line is this: Never send cash or presents to a crush you haven't seen in person. - If you think the individual is a romance scammer, stop all communication with them right away. - Speak to someone you can trust. Do your loved ones or friends express concern about your new partner? - Look up the person's line of work plus the phrase "scammer" online. Has anyone else posted anything similar? Search for "oil rig scammer" or "US Army scammer," for instance. - Use the person's profile photo as a starting point for a reverse image search. Is it connected to a different name or to mismatched information? Those are indicators of fraud. ## **How to Report a Romance Scam** If you paid a romance scammer with a gift card, wire transfer, credit or debit card, or cryptocurrency, [contact the company or your bank right away](https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/what-do-if-you-were-scammed#Paid). Tell them you paid a scammer and ask them to refund your money. If you think it’s a scam, report it to the FTC at [ReportFraud.ftc.gov](https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/). Notify the social networking site or app where you met the scammer, too.     *If you’d like to learn more about how to identify a romance scam, check out this *[*Valentine’s Day webinar*](https://staysafeonline.org/programs/events/true-love-or-candy-coated-con-identifying-romance-scams/)*. For more information on optimizing your IT and securing your network, *[*contact RCS Professional Services*](https://www.rcsprofessional.com/contact-us)* to speak with an IT professional or visit our website *[*www.rcsprofessional.com*](https://www.rcsprofessional.com/)*.* Share - [![Facebook](https://blog.rcsprofessional.com/hubfs/RCSProfessionalServices_November2019/images/facebook.png)](https://www.facebook.com/RCSProServices/) - [![Linkedin](https://blog.rcsprofessional.com/hubfs/RCSProfessionalServices_November2019/images/linkedin.png)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/rcsprofessionalservices/) - [![Twitter](https://blog.rcsprofessional.com/hubfs/RCSProfessionalServices_November2019/images/twitter.png)](https://twitter.com/RCSProServices) - [![Instagram](https://blog.rcsprofessional.com/hubfs/RCSProfessionalServices_November2019/images/instagram.png)](https://www.instagram.com/rcsproservices/) - [![YouTube](https://blog.rcsprofessional.com/hubfs/RCSProfessionalServices_November2019/images/youtube.png)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVy0Lqraxqrk3nRNOgQeyBQ) - [Get link https://blog.rcsprofessional.com/what-to-know-about-romance-scams](https://blog.rcsprofessional.com/what-to-know-about-romance-scams#get-link) - Icons/ic\_24\_facebook\_dark Facebook - [Icons/ic\_24\_twitter\_dark Twitter](https://twitter.com/share?text=What%20to%20Know%20About%20Romance%20Scams&url=https://blog.rcsprofessional.com/what-to-know-about-romance-scams) - Icons/ic\_24\_pinterest\_dark Pinterest - [Email](mailto:?subject=What%20to%20Know%20About%20Romance%20Scams&body=https://blog.rcsprofessional.com/what-to-know-about-romance-scams) - Other Apps Share - [Get link https://blog.rcsprofessional.com/what-to-know-about-romance-scams](https://blog.rcsprofessional.com/what-to-know-about-romance-scams#get-link) - Icons/ic\_24\_facebook\_dark Facebook - [Icons/ic\_24\_twitter\_dark Twitter](https://twitter.com/share?text=What%20to%20Know%20About%20Romance%20Scams&url=https://blog.rcsprofessional.com/what-to-know-about-romance-scams) - Icons/ic\_24\_pinterest\_dark Pinterest - [Email](mailto:?subject=What%20to%20Know%20About%20Romance%20Scams&body=https://blog.rcsprofessional.com/what-to-know-about-romance-scams) - Other Apps Link copied to clipboard ### Popular posts from this blog ## [Use the ‘Transparent Note’ App to Get Through Your Next Virtual Meeting or Interview](https://blog.rcsprofessional.com/use-the-transparent-note-app-to-get-through-your-next-virtual-meeting-or-interview) March 31, 2022 We're not superhuman, and no matter how hard we try to memorize every talking point or question, we can't work at our best without a little help. Even yet, it appears more impressive, especially on video conversations, if we never have to look away from the camera when interviewing or presenting. Finding a means to glance at both your notes and the video conference at the same time is the solution. We've discovered an app that can assist you with this: It's called Transparent Note, and it's not a play on words. Share - [Get link https://blog.rcsprofessional.com/what-to-know-about-romance-scams](https://blog.rcsprofessional.com/what-to-know-about-romance-scams#get-link) - Icons/ic\_24\_facebook\_dark Facebook - Icons/ic\_24\_twitter\_dark Twitter - Icons/ic\_24\_pinterest\_dark Pinterest - [Email](mailto:?subject=What%20to%20Know%20About%20Romance%20Scams&body=https://blog.rcsprofessional.com/use-the-transparent-note-app-to-get-through-your-next-virtual-meeting-or-interview) [Post a Comment](https://blog.rcsprofessional.com/use-the-transparent-note-app-to-get-through-your-next-virtual-meeting-or-interview#comments-list) [Read More](https://blog.rcsprofessional.com/use-the-transparent-note-app-to-get-through-your-next-virtual-meeting-or-interview) ## [What’s New in Microsoft 365 Copilot for 2026: Features You Should Actually Be Using](https://blog.rcsprofessional.com/whats-new-in-microsoft-365-copilot-for-2026-features-you-should-actually-be-using) January 14, 2026 Microsoft 365 Copilot continues to evolve rapidly, but with every new release comes the challenge of separating real productivity gains from AI hype. If your team is asking which features actually matter, you are in the right place. In 2026, Microsoft has pushed updates that go beyond flashy demos. These enhancements are designed to help teams work smarter, save time, and focus on meaningful outcomes, not just interesting AI tools. Below, we break down the most impactful Copilot updates you should be using today. Share - [Get link https://blog.rcsprofessional.com/what-to-know-about-romance-scams](https://blog.rcsprofessional.com/what-to-know-about-romance-scams#get-link) - Icons/ic\_24\_facebook\_dark Facebook - Icons/ic\_24\_twitter\_dark Twitter - Icons/ic\_24\_pinterest\_dark Pinterest - [Email](mailto:?subject=What%20to%20Know%20About%20Romance%20Scams&body=https://blog.rcsprofessional.com/whats-new-in-microsoft-365-copilot-for-2026-features-you-should-actually-be-using) [Post a Comment](https://blog.rcsprofessional.com/whats-new-in-microsoft-365-copilot-for-2026-features-you-should-actually-be-using#comments-list) [Read More](https://blog.rcsprofessional.com/whats-new-in-microsoft-365-copilot-for-2026-features-you-should-actually-be-using) ## [Political Scams 101: How to Spot and Stop Them](https://blog.rcsprofessional.com/political-scams-101-how-to-spot-and-stop-them) September 19, 2024 Political scams are becoming increasingly common, especially during election seasons when individuals are more likely to engage with political content. While political phone scams are widespread, scammers use a variety of tactics, from phishing emails to social media impersonations, to exploit public interest in elections and political causes. Share - [Get link https://blog.rcsprofessional.com/what-to-know-about-romance-scams](https://blog.rcsprofessional.com/what-to-know-about-romance-scams#get-link) - Icons/ic\_24\_facebook\_dark Facebook - Icons/ic\_24\_twitter\_dark Twitter - Icons/ic\_24\_pinterest\_dark Pinterest - [Email](mailto:?subject=What%20to%20Know%20About%20Romance%20Scams&body=https://blog.rcsprofessional.com/political-scams-101-how-to-spot-and-stop-them) [Post a Comment](https://blog.rcsprofessional.com/political-scams-101-how-to-spot-and-stop-them#comments-list) [Read More](https://blog.rcsprofessional.com/political-scams-101-how-to-spot-and-stop-them) ### Archive - [March 2022 (8)](https://blog.rcsprofessional.com/archive/2022/03) - [July 2020 (7)](https://blog.rcsprofessional.com/archive/2020/07) - [September 2020 (6)](https://blog.rcsprofessional.com/archive/2020/09) - [October 2020 (6)](https://blog.rcsprofessional.com/archive/2020/10) - [April 2021 (6)](https://blog.rcsprofessional.com/archive/2021/04) [![RCS Professional](https://blog.rcsprofessional.com/hubfs/RCSProfessionalServices_November2019/images/logo.png)](https://www.rcsprofessional.com) --- Small Business IT Solutions throughout the New York TriState - [![Facebook](https://blog.rcsprofessional.com/hubfs/RCSProfessionalServices_November2019/images/facebook.png)](https://www.facebook.com/RCSProServices/) - [![Linkedin](https://blog.rcsprofessional.com/hubfs/RCSProfessionalServices_November2019/images/linkedin.png)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/rcsprofessionalservices/) - [![Twitter](https://blog.rcsprofessional.com/hubfs/RCSProfessionalServices_November2019/images/twitter.png)](https://twitter.com/RCSProServices) - [![Instagram](https://blog.rcsprofessional.com/hubfs/RCSProfessionalServices_November2019/images/instagram.png)](https://www.instagram.com/rcsproservices/) - [![YouTube](https://blog.rcsprofessional.com/hubfs/RCSProfessionalServices_November2019/images/youtube.png)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVy0Lqraxqrk3nRNOgQeyBQ) ### CONTACT INFO. - ![CORPORATE OFFICE ](https://blog.rcsprofessional.com/hubfs/RCSProfessionalServices_November2019/images/location.png) CORPORATE OFFICE 125 Maiden Lane 14th Floor New York, NY 10038 - ![RCS](https://blog.rcsprofessional.com/hubfs/RCSProfessionalServices_November2019/images/mobile.png) Office: [212-532-9111](tel:6468378578) - ![Churchill Court](https://blog.rcsprofessional.com/hubfs/RCSProfessionalServices_November2019/images/location.png) 701 Whitlock Ave SW, Unit K48   Marietta, GA 30064   - ![Office](https://blog.rcsprofessional.com/hubfs/RCSProfessionalServices_November2019/images/mobile.png) Office: [404-900-9854](tel:+6468378578) - ![Email](https://blog.rcsprofessional.com/hubfs/RCSProfessionalServices_November2019/images/message.png) [info@rcsprofessional.com](mailto:info@rcsprofessional.com) © 2024 [RCS Professional Services](https://www.rcsprofessional.com). All rights reserved