Romance scam red flags: 12 signs to watch for

How common are romance scams?

Very. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission says reported losses to romance scams rose 22% in 2025, to about $2,020 per person who lost money (FTC, May 2026). And it isn't only dating apps: nearly 60% of people who reported losing money to a romance scam in 2025 said it started on social media (FTC, April 2026).

Scammers are often patient and kind. Falling for one isn't about being naive. It's about someone working very hard to earn your trust.

12 red flags

1. They ask for money, gifts or gift cards. For a ticket to visit, a medical bill, a fee to release a package, anything. This is the biggest red flag of all.
2. They bring up investing or crypto. They offer to teach you, or show you how much they've made. Many scams now end on a fake investment site.
3. They can never meet in person. There's always a reason: they're overseas, on an oil rig, in the military, or working for an international organization.
4. Video calls never happen. The camera is always broken, or the connection is always bad.
5. They want to leave the app quickly. Moving to text, WhatsApp or Telegram early means the app can no longer see or stop them.
6. It moves very fast. Big feelings within days, talk of a future together before you've met.
7. A sudden crisis appears. An accident, a stuck payment, trouble at customs, a legal problem, and only you can help.
8. They ask you to keep it secret. "Don't tell your family, they won't understand."
9. Their photos look too perfect, or appear elsewhere. A reverse image search may show them under a different name.
10. The details don't add up. Their story shifts, or their writing doesn't match who they say they are.
11. They push you with urgency or guilt. "If you loved me, you'd help." Real partners don't pressure you over money.
12. They ask for account access, codes or to move money for them. Never share login codes, and never receive or forward money for someone you haven't met. That can pull you into their crime.

Never send money or gifts to someone you haven't met in person.

What to do if you're worried

• Stop and don't send anything. A real person will understand if you say no.
• Talk to someone you trust. Friends and family often see what's hard to see from inside.
• Check their photos with a reverse image search.
• Report them to the app or site where you met.
• Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
• If you already sent money, contact your bank or the payment company right away and ask if the payment can be stopped or reversed.

The FTC's guide What to know about romance scams has more.

How Fated is designed against scams

• Everyone signs the same pledge, including never asking a match for money.
• Nobody can browse you. Matching is automatic, so no one can scroll through profiles looking for a target.
• Report anyone in two taps. Reports are private, and a real person reviews them.
• A Verified badge means the member passed a selfie check reviewed by a person.

No app can catch everything, so the rule stays the same everywhere: never send money to someone you haven't met. For more, visit our Safety Center.