Romance scams, also known as dating scams, catfishing scams, or love bait, are an increasingly common form of fraud where someone pretends to be in a relationship with you to gain your trust and steal your money.

These scams typically begin on online dating apps like Tinder, Hinge, or Plenty of Fish, or on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. Scammers often use fake profiles, sometimes stealing photos or impersonating celebrities, and send friendly or flirtatious messages to start a conversation. Once a connection is established, they quickly develop an emotional bond—texting you frequently, complimenting you, and even discussing future plans.

Their goal is to gain your trust in order to ask you for money under false pretenses. These requests usually relate to emotional or urgent matters, such as family emergencies, travel problems, frozen bank accounts, or promising investment opportunities. Whether the pressure is subtle or intense, the ultimate goal is always financial gain—inflicting emotional stress and financial hardship on the victim.

Common Types of Romance Scams

Love Bait (also known as "Slaughter")

Scammers first build an emotional connection with their victim and then slowly persuade them to invest. Once they have obtained the money, they disappear without a trace. Scammers call this "slaughter," but we prefer the term "love bait" because it's easier to blame them.

Celebrity Scams

In this scam, fraudsters impersonate celebrities and use fake or secret profiles. They may send friendly messages to fans before slowly asking for money, usually under the pretext of not having access to the account or needing urgent help.

Military, Oil Worker, or Businessperson Scams

In this scam, fraudsters pose as skilled workers stranded abroad, members of the military, oil rig workers, or high-ranking business professionals. They may initially seem trustworthy, but eventually claim to need help with travel, documents, or urgent financial matters.