Romance scams and relationship scams are two of the most common ways to exploit trust, emotions, and personal information. While the terms are often used interchangeably, they are not the same, and understanding the difference is important.
Each type of scam follows a distinct pattern, targets victims in various ways, and can lead to serious consequences, including financial loss and identity theft.
In this guide, we will outline the key differences between romance scams and relationship scams, explain how they operate, and help you recognize the warning signs before scammers take advantage of your trust.
Romance Scams
Romance scams are a type of fraud that involves criminals using deception to take advantage of victims looking for companionship. These scams typically involve criminals posing as potential partners on dating websites or social media platforms.
They can often use fake profiles and photos. And they often claim to be from another country. The scammer’s goal is to gain the victim's trust and then ask for money, gifts, or steal personal information to commit identity theft.
The scammer can ask the victim for money to come visit them or to cover the cost of a phone so they can speak with them. Once the victim sends money, the victim will likely never hear from the love interest again.
Romance scams can be very costly for victims.
In 2025, FBI reported over 550 victims from Jacksonville to Daytona, Gainesville, Tallahassee, and the Panhandle reported losing a total of $22.2 million due to romance scams. Complaints about confidence and romance fraud, as well as associated losses, nationwide surpassed those recorded in the 2024 Internet Crime Complaint Center Annual Report.
This trend indicates that romance scams are becoming an increasingly widespread issue, not just in February but throughout the entire year.
Relationship Scams
Relationship scams are also a type of fraud that involves criminals using deception to take advantage of victims. These scams typically involve criminals posing as potential partners and building a relationship with the victim, similar to pig butchering scams.
These scammers are in for the long con and build a relationship with the victim for months and even years. Again, the goal is to gain the victim's trust and then ask for money, gifts, or personal information.
In relationship scams, the victim may send thousands of dollars over a period of years to the scammer.
How to Protect Yourself from Romance Scams and Relationship Scams
Legislation has been passed to help prevent romance scams and make it easier to learn if you could have been a victim, but the best practice is to learn the red flags and avoid romance scams on your own.
The bipartisan "Romance Scam Prevention Act" (H.R. 2481/S. 841), introduced in early 2025 and passed by the House in June 2025, requires dating apps to notify users if they have interacted with a profile banned for fraudulent activity.
Scammers often use the same patterns and techniques, so if you know what to look for, you can be more likely to spot a scam.
Some common signs of a romance scam include:
- The person you're talking to is very charming and attentive.
- They are in a hurry to move the relationship forward.
- They ask for money or personal information, such as your bank account number or Social Security number.
- They disappear after you send them money or personal information.
Be careful about what information you share with anyone online. Never give out your personal information, such as your bank account number or Social Security number, to someone you don't know and trust.
What you can do to help protect yourself:
- If you believe you have been the victim of a romance or relationship scam, contact your local law enforcement agency.
- Do your research before meeting anyone online.
- Check their social media profiles, look for news articles about them, and see if there are any reviews or complaints about them.
- You should also report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The FTC can help you file a complaint and get information about how to protect yourself from scams.
Romance Scams FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about romance scams:
How do you tell if they are a romance scammer?
Signs of a romance scammer include moving too fast (love-bombing), having a vague or inconsistent backstory (often claiming to be overseas or in the military), constantly having emergencies that prevent meeting in person or video chatting, and quickly asking for money or gift cards, especially for travel or emergencies.
They'll often try to move off dating apps to private messaging and use poor grammar despite claiming fluency, while creating fake profiles with generic photos.
What are common romance scammer phrases?
Romance scammers use phrases to rapidly build intense emotional connections (love bombing), create urgency, and then ask for money, often claiming emergencies or unique circumstances like being in the military overseas or needing help with an investment or a package.
Common phrases include "I've never felt this way before," "you're my soulmate," "I can't wait to spend my life with you," "I need your help with an important delivery," and "if you love me, you'll help me," alongside excuses for not video chatting or meeting.
How do you outsmart a romance scammer?
Tips to outsmart a romance scammer:
- Do a Reverse Image Search Romance scammers use stolen photos of innocent people.
- Video Chat to Verify Their Identity
- Meeting In-Person
- Do an Online Search
- Ask Them for a Picture or Video Doing Something Specific
How do you know if you are chatting with a scammer?
You can tell you're chatting with a scammer by their intense pressure for quick action, requests for money or personal info, stories that don't add up (especially if they're always abroad), refusal to video chat or meet, and demanding unusual payment methods like gift cards or crypto.
They often try to isolate you, move to different platforms quickly, and use threats or urgent sob stories to manipulate you.
Take Control of Your Identity Before Someone Else Does
Identity theft monitoring can act as an early warning system for fraud. It continuously monitors records like your credit reports, dark web marketplace listings, and public databases to look for signs that your personal data has been compromised, or someone is using your identity.
Proactive monitoring can help you stop identity theft in its tracks and begin the recovery process much faster.
Beyond simple monitoring, IdentityIQ offers a full suite of digital protection services, including antivirus software and virtual private networks (VPNs), to keep you safe online. Plus, you get a team of identity restoration experts on your side and up to $1 Million Stolen Funds Reimbursement4 to help you recover your identity after fraud occurs.
Do not wait until your data shows up on the dark web or suspicious activity appears on your accounts. Sign up for IdentityIQ . Take control with IdentityIQ to gain the peace of mind that identity protection experts are watching out for you.
