Love and Romance Scams 'In the Air' This Valentine's Day

Published on February 14, 2019

While love is in the air this Valentine’s Day, so are romance scams. According the Federal Trade Commission, last year people reported losing $143 million to these types of scams -- that’s a higher total than any other scam reported to the FTC.

Romance scams don’t include "falling in love with the wrong person," but rather falling for someone you meet online who is out to get lucky with one thing and one thing only: your money.

These con-artists will lavish you with attention, and then ask for money. They might claim they need it for a medical emergency or to come visit you, but once you send over your hard-earned cash, you never hear from them again.

A few tips to avoid romance scams:

• Never send money or gifts to a sweetheart you haven’t met in person.
• Take the online relationship slowly. Ask questions and look for inconsistent answers.
• If you suspect a romance scam, cut off contact right away. Then, report to the scam to the FTC at ftc.gov/complaint. Notify the dating site where you met the scammer, too.