Checked
Written from official fraud-agency notices. Every figure and piece of advice is checked against the sources listed at the bottom.
What we found
Set out in the same plain format as reader reports.
- What kind of scam?
- Fake romance and emergencies
- In short
- A new partner online cannot meet or video call, then has a medical bill, a ticket or a fee that needs money. They ask for hard-to-reverse payments.
- How does it reach you?
- Dating app or social media
- What does the message look like?
- Example messages written by us.I have never felt this way about anyone. I work on an oil rig so I cannot video call. My daughter is in hospital and I need $900 today. Please don't tell anyone, they won't understand.
- How can you spot it?
- They cannot meet in person
Living abroad, an oil rig, military service or an international organisation. - Money for medical bills, tickets or visas
The reason changes, the request does not. - Payment by wire, gift card PIN, money app or crypto
Methods that are hard to reverse. - A photo that shows up under other names
Try a reverse image search.
- They cannot meet in person
- Is it growing?
- It is ongoing
- Where do I report it?
- FTC ReportFraud
reportfraud.ftc.gov
- FTC ReportFraud
If this happened to you
- Never send money or gifts to someone you have not met in person.
- Stop talking to the person. Talk to a friend or family member you trust.
- Search their job plus "scammer" and run a reverse image search on their photo.
- If you paid, contact the company or bank right away and ask for a refund. Report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and on the site where you met.
Sources (1)
Sources
- US Federal Trade Commission: What to know about romance scams (Updated Aug 2026)