You’re not alone. Romance fraud online is a real, growing threat. People lost more than $1 billion in 2024, and that number continues to climb. In this post, I explain what it is, who it’s hitting hardest, the profile red flags (the same ones you flagged in your image), and why new safeguards, like Swept Dating’s updated terms, matter more than ever.
What Is Romance Fraud (and Why It’s Gaining Ground)
Romance fraud, or catfishing, is a scam where someone pretends to seek connection, then exploits trust to extract money or personal data. Scammers often operate in organized groups. They craft convincing profiles, sometimes using stolen or AI‑generated images, and deploy psychological tactics to manipulate victims.
These scams often merge emotional manipulation with financial fraud. A variant called “pig‑butchering” combines romance and faux investment schemes, typically with cryptocurrency, resulting in devastating financial losses.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
- In 2024, victims lost $1.3 billion to romance scams, up sharply from $547 million in 2021.
- The median loss per person in the U.S. hit $2,000, the highest among all “imposter scams”, with a total of 64,003 reports in 2023.
- Globally, the toll is even steeper: in the U.S. alone, around $4.5 billion lost over the past decade.
- In Q1 2025, romance scam reports in the UK rose 20% year‑on‑year, with average losses of £8,000 per victim.
Victim Profiles: Who’s Being Targeted
Romance scams often exploit emotional needs. Older adults, especially those aged 50‑plus, are frequent targets, sometimes accounting for nearly half of all victims. In the U.K., people in their 40s to mid‑60s dominate the victim stats. Students are also vulnerable. One survey in the U.K. found 28% of students have been targeted by AI‑aided “sextortion” scams through dating apps.
Victims often carry silent shame. As one author’s experience illustrates, shifting blame from the victims to the scammers is vital to reducing stigma and encouraging reporting.
What to Look for: Dating‑Profile Red Flags
So what are you to do? The best strategy to thwart romance fraud is to be aware of what to watch out for, and avoid interacting with anyone who seems to raise one or more of the following red flags:
| Red Flag | What to Watch For |
|---|---|
| AI‑generated or too‑polished profiles | Stock‑image photos; robotic or unnatural language |
| Too good to be true | “Trustworthy” backstory, glowing romance, unreal perfection |
| Early shift off the app | Pushing to chat elsewhere or exit the platform quickly |
| Love bombing | Excessive affection, rapid intimacy, early personal questions |
| Isolation tactics | Claiming outsiders don’t understand, framing “us” as special |
| Control tactics | Acting vulnerable to mask control as care |
| Money requests | Small asks escalating quickly; urgent pressure; gifts; never send money to someone you’ve never met |
Swept Dating’s New Terms: A Small Step Toward Safer Matches
Swept Dating recently updated its terms of service to bar anyone with convictions for violent or sexual crimes. This proactive step comes on the heals of an announcement to make such changes from the Online Dating and Discovery Association (ODDA). It signals platforms can—and should—apply basic screening standards to reduce risk.
The policy mirrors the growing regulatory pressure, such as the Online Dating Safety Act, which would require platforms to notify users if they’ve interacted with suspected scam accounts.
You don’t need to lose trust in online dating, but you do need awareness.
- Recognize the red flags. If something feels off, trust your instincts.
- Report suspicions. It helps platforms protect others and can lead to enforcement.
- Demand better standards. Platforms like Swept Dating are leading. Lawmakers are watching.
Romance fraud online is climbing, and it doesn’t discriminate from older adults, students, and emotionally vulnerable people. But knowing what to watch for, and recognizing that platforms are starting to act, shifts control back to you. Stay sharp, stay safe, and don’t let scammers take advantage of your online dating journey.
Have you, or someone you know, encountered a romance scam? Share your story (anonymously if you prefer). It helps others avoid the same trap and helps shift the stigma. 💞
