What is a Romance Scam?

A romance scam is a confidence trick where a criminal adopts a fake online identity to gain a victim’s affection and trust.  The scammer then uses the illusion of a romantic or close relationship to manipulate and/or steal from the victim.

Romance Scammer Victims

After connecting with a victim through a fake profile, a romance scammer will strike up a conversation and start building a relationship by regularly chatting with them.

Fake Love: The Book

None of us thought it could happen to us, but it did.  We had heard of the Nigerian prince email scam, but none of us realized the extent of the online romance scam epidemic. 


What to Do if You are a Romance Scam Victim:  How to Report Your Crime