Falling in love can be a whirlwind, especially in the digital age. Unfortunately, among the genuine online friend seekers are scammers who want to steal your heart and your wallet, with losses from romance scams topping $1 billion each year.

Romance scams target lonely or isolated people, often seniors, with fake online profiles to build trust. Then they ask for money for an “emergency,” to pay for travel to meet in person, or to buy an investment and promise the profits will go toward a future life together.

Stay safe online with this action plan:
 

• Don’t send money. Never send money via wire transfer, gift card, or person-to-person payment app to someone you don’t know. Once your money is gone, it’s very difficult to recover.
• Trust your instincts. When in doubt, get a second opinion from a trusted friend or family member.
• Guard your information. Never share financial or personal details like your address, phone number, email, date of birth, Social Security number, or passwords.
• Stay online or in app. Scammers try to move the conversation off-line to bypass built-in security measures.
• Keep it public. Choose a safe public place to meet and tell a trusted friend or family member where you’re going.
• Report and block. Report a suspicious profile to the app and block all communication. If you think you’ve been scammed, report it to the app and your financial institution as soon as possible.

Many successful relationships start with people meeting online. It’s OK to be open to love, just be cautious and learn how to safely navigate online dating to protect your emotions and your bank account.

Check out these online resources to learn more about romance scams:

Federal Trade Commission: https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/

United States Secret Service: https://www.secretservice.gov/investigations/romancescams

Department of Homeland Security: https://www.ice.gov/features/romance-scams