A romance scam builds trust over weeks, then asks for money, often by gift card, wire, app or crypto. The FTC's red flags are moving off the platform quickly, never meeting in person, any request for money and pressure to pay now. Stop contact and tell someone you trust.
The pattern
Per the FTC, scammers create fake dating or social media profiles, build trust through frequent chats and then ask for money. They often claim to live or work far away, such as overseas, on an oil rig, in the military or with an international organization. Requests include medical bills, travel tickets, visa fees and fees to get out of trouble.
The FTC also notes that romance scammers may offer to help you get started in cryptocurrency investing. We did not find separate FTC guidance on investment scams on that page, so this post sticks to what it says about romance and payment methods.
Red flags
- The conversation moves off the app to email, calls or text quickly
- They say they cannot meet in person
- Any request for money or gifts
- Pressure to pay immediately
Payment methods scammers ask for
- Wire transfers through money transfer services
- Gift cards, with the PIN codes
- Money transfer apps
- Cryptocurrency transfers
The FTC says scammers prefer these methods because they get money quickly and recovery is hard. A new contact who insists on one of them is telling you something.
Why professionals are targets
Busy, successful people can have money, little time and less chance to talk things through. A warm daily message is a welcome break. Keep personal details on public profiles modest, since they give a stranger material for a story.
What to do
The FTC recommends:
- Never send money or gifts to someone you have not met in person.
- Stop communicating with the person right away.
- Talk to a trusted friend or family member.
- Search online for the person's job plus "scammer" to see if others reported similar stories.
- Run a reverse image search on their profile photo to see if it appears under other names.
- If you paid, contact the company or your bank immediately and ask for a refund.
- Report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and notify the app or site where you met.
For payment specifics see first steps by payment method.
A rule worth making
Set a personal rule before it matters: "I do not send money to anyone I have not met in person, and I do not move money for anyone who asks me to keep it secret." Tell your spouse or a close friend, and ask them to hold you to it.
Quick check
Is a refusal to video call a red flag?
The FTC lists claiming they cannot meet in person as a red flag. Treat avoidance of live contact as a reason to pause.
What if I already sent a gift card?
Contact the card issuer immediately, say a scammer obtained the card and PIN, and request a refund.
Sources
Last reviewed: 19 October 2026.
