Online Romance Scam
CONFIRMED THREAT
Scammers build fake romantic relationships, then request money. FBI IC3: 17,910 complaints, $672M losses in 2024.
dating appsfacebookinstagram
→3 confirmed active threats
💔Romance Scams
Romance scams caused $672M in losses across 17,910 complaints in 2024. Scammers build fake relationships on dating apps over weeks or months, then exploit victims for money through fake emergencies or investments. Seniors 60+ lost $389M to romance scams.
$672Min reported losses, 2024(IC3)17 910 complaints↑ 3% vs 2023
3
Patterns Documented
3
Confirmed Threats
0
High Risk
$16.6B
Reported Losses, 2024 (IC3)
Data sourced from FBI IC3 2024 Annual Report. Data reflects complaints submitted to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) and may not represent all incidents. ZeroScam is an educational tool and is not affiliated with the FBI.
Filter by Category
Clear filter ×All Patterns (85)₿ Cryptocurrency Scams(4)$6.6B💳 Payment & BEC Scams(9)$2.8B💻 Tech Support Scams(5)$1.5B🔓 Personal Data Breach(2)$1.5B🛒 Online Purchase Scams(5)💔 Romance Scams(3)🏛️ Government Impersonation(6)🏢 Corporate Data Breach(3)💼 Job & Employment Scams(6)🏧 Crypto ATM & Kiosk Scams(3)🥇 Gold Courier Scams(2)🪪 Identity Theft(3)🏠 Rental Scams(2)🔒 Extortion & Blackmail(1)🎰 Prize & Lottery Scams(1)🎣 Phishing & Smishing(3)📦 Delivery & Shipping Scams(4)🎭 Impersonation Scams(4)🤖 AI-Powered Scams(5)📱 Social Media Scams(2)📞 Telemarketing Scams(1)🏥 Healthcare Scams(1)🏦 Financial Service Scams(2)🔧 Service Provider Scams(2)🎗️ Charity Scams(1)🗳️ Election & Civic Scams(2)🧬 Synthetic Identity Fraud(2)🔄 Recovery Scams(1)
Threat Levels
CONFIRMED THREAT— Actively reported to FBI IC3
HIGH RISK— Significant victim reports
EMERGING— Recently identified pattern
Wrong Number Text Scam
CONFIRMED THREAT
Scammers send "accidental" texts to start conversations leading to romance scams or crypto fraud.
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→Dating App Verification Scam
CONFIRMED THREAT
Dating matches ask you to verify via link. Site steals payment info or signs you up for adult subscriptions.
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→Common Questions About Romance Scams
How do I know if my online relationship is a scam?▼
Red flags: can't video chat, overseas/military, relationship moves fast, eventually asks for money. If they ask for money, it's a scam.
Why can't romance scammers video chat?▼
They're using stolen photos. They can't appear as that person on video. Excuses: broken camera, bad connection, restricted area.
Should I send money to someone I met online?▼
Never. No matter how real the relationship feels. Scammers spend months building trust specifically to ask for money.
How do I verify someone's photos?▼
Reverse image search: upload to images.google.com. If it appears elsewhere with different names, it's stolen.
📖 How to Use This Database
- ✓Browse patterns to learn scammer tactics before you encounter them
- ✓Share specific pattern pages with family members who may be targeted
- ✓Use our scanner to check suspicious messages against all 85 patterns
- ✓Report scams to FBI IC3 and FTC using links on each pattern page
⚖️ Important Information
This database is provided for educational and informational purposes only. Pattern data is derived from publicly available FBI IC3 reports and ongoing research.
ZeroScam does not guarantee detection of all scams. Always exercise caution and verify independently before sending money or personal information.
Not legal or financial advice. If you have been victimized, contact local law enforcement and file reports with FBI IC3 and FTC.
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73% of Americans report being targeted(Pew Research, 2025 survey)
|$470M reported in text-related fraud(FTC, 2024)
|$16.6B in total reported losses(FBI IC3, 2024)