When Trust Turns Toxic: Spotting Fraud Before It Strikes

When Trust Turns Toxic: Spotting Fraud Before It Strikes

Online dating has created real opportunities for people to meet—but it has also created new ways for criminals to commit fraud. Today’s romance scams are more advanced, more convincing, and more difficult to spot. Scammers use well-written profiles, fake dating sites, malware, and even AI-generated video calls to trick victims into trusting them.

This blog breaks down the four most common types of online romance-related scams and how to protect yourself.

1. Romance Scams: When a “Relationship” Is Really a Setup

Romance scams happen when someone pretends to form a relationship to gain trust and eventually steal money.

How it usually works:

• A scammer creates a profile using stolen photos
• They quickly express strong feelings or affection
• They avoid meeting in person by claiming to travel often or work overseas
• Eventually, a “crisis” arises, and they ask for money

Common excuses include medical emergencies, travel issues, frozen bank accounts, or needing help to visit you.

Red flags:

• They fall in love very quickly
• They ask for money through gift cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency, or payment apps
• They want you to keep the relationship secret

2. Fake Dating Sites: A Trap from the Start

Not every dating website or app is legitimate. Some sites are designed only to collect money or personal information.

Warning signs of a fake dating site:

• You must pay before you can even view real profiles
• Messages appear instantly after you join
• Profiles look like professional models
• The company has no clear customer support or physical address
• The site asks for unnecessary personal information

These sites may charge expensive fees, sign you up for subscriptions you didn’t agree to, or use your data for further scams.

3. Malware Scams: “Click Here to See My Photos”

Some scammers never ask for money directly. Instead, they try to infect your phone or computer with malware.

How it works:

• A scammer sends a link to “private photos,” a “secure chat app,” or a file download
• Clicking it installs malware in the background
• The malware can steal passwords, read your messages, or access your bank accounts

Red flags:

• Someone you barely know asks you to click a link
• They want you to move conversations off the dating app quickly
• They pressure you to open something “right now”

If it feels suspicious, don’t click it.

4. Long-Term Investment Schemes: The “Pig Butchering” Scam

These scams look like friendships or relationships at first but turn into investment fraud.

How it works:

• The scammer contacts you on social media, a dating app, or even through a “wrong number” text
• They build a friendly or romantic connection over weeks or months
• Eventually, they introduce you to a “safe” investment, usually cryptocurrency
• They direct you to a professional-looking but completely fake trading website
• Your “profits” are fake, and when you try to withdraw money, you can’t

Victims often lose thousands—or even their life savings.

Red flags:

• Someone you met online tells you about “special” or “insider” investments
• Screenshots showing unrealistically high profits or guarantee returns
• Pressure to invest quickly
• They ask you to move money to unknown websites or apps

5. AI Is Making Scams More Convincing

Scammers are now using artificial intelligence to make their schemes harder to detect.

Examples of AI used in romance scams:

• Deepfake videos that make it look like the scammer is video chatting with you
• Voice cloning to sound more realistic
• AI-written messages that appear caring, personal, and perfectly written
• AI-generated profile photos that look real but belong to no one

AI allows scammers to maintain fake identities for months or even years.

How to protect yourself:

• Ask the person to do something spontaneous on video (like wave or show today’s date)
• Look closely for freezing, unnatural facial movements, or mismatched audio
• If video quality looks “too perfect,” be cautious

How to Stay Safe

• Never send money to someone you haven’t met in person.
• Do not click unknown links or download files from online contacts.
• Verify identities with a live, unedited video chat.
• Trust your instincts—if a relationship feels rushed, pressured, or secretive, step back.
• Talk to someone you trust if something feels off. Scammers try to isolate victims.
• Report suspicious behavior to the dating platform and to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.