Relationship Scams: When Love Turns into Financial Fraud

Romance is a beautiful thing, but when it comes to online relationships, caution is key. Scammers take advantage of people looking for love by manipulating emotions and stealing money. These relationship scams—also known as romance scams—are one of the fastest-growing types of fraud.

How Do Romance Scams Work?

A scammer will typically...
💔 Create a fake online profile with stolen photos.
💔 Build a connection by chatting for weeks or months.
💔 Gain your trust and then make financial requests.

Where Do Scammers Operate?

🔹 Dating Apps – Tinder, Bumble, Match
🔹 Social Media – Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp
🔹 Emails & Text Messages

Common Romance Scam Tactics

The Long-Distance Love Scam

🚨 How It Works
The scammer claims to be…
✔ A deployed military member.
✔ A doctor working overseas.
✔ A wealthy investor stuck abroad.
 
They express deep love but always have an excuse for why they can’t meet in person. Eventually, they ask for...
💰 Travel expenses to visit you.
💰 Emergency medical bills or debt help.
💰 Money to invest in their “business.”
🔒 How to Protect Yourself
  • Be wary of online relationships that move too fast.
  • Reverse image search their photos to check for stolen identities.
  • Never send money to someone you haven’t met.

The Fake Investment Scam

🚨 How It Works
A scammer convinces you to invest in cryptocurrency, forex trading, or stocks. They... 
✔ Show fake profits to gain trust.
✔ Encourage you to invest more.
✔ Suddenly disappear or block you when you try to withdraw funds.
🔒 How to Protect Yourself
  • Verify any investment with a financial professional.
  • Never share your banking or crypto wallet details.

The Emergency Money Scam

🚨 How It Works
After weeks of chatting, the scammer suddenly faces an urgent crisis
  • They need surgery but can’t afford it. 
  • Their wallet was stolen while traveling.
  • They need money for a visa or plane ticket to visit you.
🔒 How to Protect Yourself
  • If they ask for money without meeting in person, it’s a red flag.
  • Ask for a video call—scammers usually refuse.

Signs of a Relationship Scam

🚩 They fall in love fast 

Saying “I love you” within days or weeks.

🚩 They never meet in person 

They always have an excuse.

🚩 They ask for money 

Real relationships don’t come with financial demands.
 

What to Do If You're a Victim

🚨 Stop communicating with the scammer.
🚨 Report the scam to:
✔ The FTC (reportfraud.ftc.gov)
✔ The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (ic3.gov)
🚨 Contact your bank if you sent money.

How First State Bank of the Southeast Can Help

❤️ Fraud Protection & Monitoring 

We help protect your accounts, utilize your Premier Card to monitor your identity with MasterCard ID Theft Protection.

❤️ Financial Security Tools 

Track transactions safely, and set alerts for unusual transactions by utilizing online banking.

❤️ Expert Guidance 

Call us at 800-248-5950 immediately if you suspect fraud, our team of experts can help!
 
🚨 If an online love interest asks for money, talk to a trusted friend or family member before sending anything. Love should never cost you your financial security.