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Romance scams, also known as dating scams, catfishing, or love baiting, are a growing type of fraud where someone pretends to be in a relationship with you to gain your trust and steal your money.

These scams often begin on dating apps such as Tinder, Hinge, or Plenty of Fish, or on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. Scammers frequently use fake profiles, sometimes with stolen photos or impersonating celebrities, and send friendly or flirty messages to start a conversation. Once a connection is established, they quickly build an emotional bond, messaging you regularly, complimenting you, and even talking about future plans.

Their goal is to gain your trust so they can ask for money under false pretenses. These requests are often tied to emotional or urgent situations, such as a family emergency, travel problems, a frozen bank account, or a promising investment opportunity. Whether the pressure is subtle or intense, the ultimate goal is always financial gain, leaving victims emotionally devastated and financially strained.

Common Types of Romance Scams

Romance Baiting (also known as "Pig Butchering")

Scammers first build an emotional bond with the victim, then slowly convince them to invest. Once they have the money, they disappear. Scammers call this "pig butchering," but we prefer "romance baiting" because it places the blame where it belongs.

Celebrity Love Scams

In these scams, fraudsters impersonate celebrities using fake or private accounts. They may send friendly messages to fans and gradually start asking for money, often using excuses about inaccessible accounts or needing help with a personal emergency.

Military, Oil Worker, or Business Scams

These scams involve fraudsters claiming to be professionals stranded overseas, in the military, on oil rigs, or in senior business roles. They may initially seem reliable, but eventually claim to need help with travel, documents, or financial emergencies.