The sweetheart scam.

Picture this: You’re on the couch watching TV when you match with the most charming person on a dating app. They text constantly, say all the right things, and you can practically hear their adorable accent through the screen.

Even with the excitement of a new crush, something feels off. They’re always too busy for a FaceTime call. They tell you they are in the United Kingdom and want to visit you. All they need is help covering travel costs. They promise they will pay you back.

So, would you lend them the money?

A real heartbreaker.

This is the sweetheart scam. It is one of the most common and successful online frauds. A scammer builds an emotional connection and gains your trust before asking for money.

Romance scams affect tens of thousands of people each year. People can end up losing large amounts of money to individuals they believed they could trust, even though they had never met them in person.

How they're doing it.

Scammers are doing more than pretending to be the love of your life to lure you into lending them money.

Here are a few new tactics they’ve been using:

• AI celebrity videos: Scammers can use AI to create videos that look and sound like real celebrities are talking directly to you.
• “Send the money to my manager” setups: This shows up in both celebrity scams and everyday romance scams. The scammer says they need a short‑term loan for travel, medical bills, or work expenses. The victim is told to send the money to a supposed manager or family member. If the scammer “pays them back” the victim receives a counterfeit check.
• Investment advice scams: No, you’re not actually talking to a crypto bro or crypto girl. These romance scams are different because the scammer isn’t asking for money. Instead, they’re offering advice on investing. Many victims are talked into moving money into a cryptocurrency account they believe belongs to them. Some are even given login details, but it’s view only. The scammer has full control behind the scenes.
• Inheritance romance scams: These sly scammers will say they can’t access their inheritance until they are married. As soon as you start to fall in love, they hear wedding bells your hard-earned money hit their account. When you start planning the big day, a “lawyer” will start reaching out with instructions about the inheritance. Fake checks are mailed out, and the person is told to deposit the check and forward money to someone else.

Relationship red flags.

Scams can vary, but there are common signs of the sweetheart scam that everyone should know.

First, the scammer will be unable or unwilling to meet in person, and something always seems to come up that keeps them at a distance. They often give vague information about what they do, where they’re from, or claim to work outside the country.

The fraudster may send you a copy of their passport or photos, but the details don’t add up. That’s because the passport is fake, or the photos were stolen from websites.

The sweetheart scam also is an equal-opportunity crime, as men and women of all ages can fall for it.

Call for help.

If you’ve been scammed or are wondering if your “sweetheart” could be a con artist, take action ASAP.

• Call your credit union or bank to ask for help.
• File a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complain Center.
• Report the scam to Federal Trade Commission.

It’s okay to ask questions and have hesitation. If your sweetheart is real, they will understand.