Emma had been single for a while, and after yet another failed relationship, she decided to give online dating a shot. She met Daniel on a popular dating app, and instantly fell for him, head over heels.

Daniel was perfect. He was a handsome, well-traveled entrepreneur with a warm smile and kind eyes. His profile was everything she had dreamed of: pictures of him hiking in the Swiss Alps, dining in Paris and working in his upscale, modern office. His bio was equally impressive: a successful consultant who traveled often, but longed to find “the one” with whom he would share life’s adventures.

Intrigued, Emma swiped right, and to her delight, they matched! Within hours, Daniel sent a charming first message: "I was hoping you’d match with me. There’s something about your smile, it’s so genuine."

Flattered, Emma responded, and their conversations soon flowed effortlessly. They exchanged numbers to chat directly with each other. They talked about their favorite books, dream destinations and even shared embarrassing childhood memories. Daniel always seemed to know exactly what to say. Unlike other men she’d dated, he wasn’t just looking for small talk. He was emotionally available, sincere, and attentive.

There was only one problem: He was never available to meet in person.

Whenever Emma suggested a coffee date or even a video call, Daniel had an excuse. “I’d love to, but I’m in Hong Kong for work,” or “My Wi-Fi here in the Maldives is terrible. Can we just text for now?”

At first, it made sense. After all, his life was super-busy and glamorous. Then things took a turn.

One evening, Daniel confided in her. He had just landed a huge business deal, but due to a banking issue while overseas, he couldn’t access his funds. “It’s so frustrating,” he admitted. “I have to close this deal before flying back home, but my accounts are frozen for 48 hours. I hate to even ask this, but … can you help me out? Just a small loan, and I’ll pay you back as soon as I return.”

Emma hesitated. She had heard of dating scams before, but this was Daniel; the man who had spent months getting to know her, who seemed to genuinely care. He even sent her a copy of his passport to prove his identity.

Luckily, before sending any money, Emma confided in a friend, who quickly searched on Daniel’s profile pictures (also known as a reverse-search) and found that they actually belonged to a European model with no connection to him at all. Her heart sank as she realized what had happened. She’d been tricked! Daniel was nothing more than a carefully crafted illusion. A scammer who had stolen photos and built a perfect online persona, even got a fake passport, just to manipulate and deceive her into giving him money.

Emma isn’t alone. While she managed to avoid a financial loss, thousands of people fall victim to romance scams every year, losing millions of dollars to people they believed were their soulmates. Take a look at these scams, red flags, and what to do if you find yourself in one.

The anatomy of a romance scam: How it happens

Step 1: The perfect match

First, scammers create fake profiles on dating sites and social media platforms. They’ll scrape pictures of attractive people off the internet, claiming to be someone they’re not. Their profiles will be perfect; well-traveled, successful, and emotionally available.

Step 2: The emotional hook

Once the scammer connects with a victim, they’ll move quickly. They’ll love-bomb the target, showering them with compliments, deep conversations, and grand declarations of love. They’ll claim to feel a strong connection within days or weeks.

Step 3: The excuses

Soon, the scammer will claim to live far away. They may tell their “date” that they’re working overseas, in the military or on a secret government mission. This way, they can avoid meeting in person while continuing the relationship online.

Step 4: The financial trap

With the stage set, the scammer will swoop in with the big ask: they’ll claim to need money for a sudden emergency, a business opportunity, travel expenses, or some other story they know will hit home with their target. The scammer will typically ask for the money to be sent via wire transfer, prepaid debit card or crypto payments, as these methods are all challenging or impossible to reverse.

Step 5: The ghost

Once the scammer gets what they want, or the victim starts asking too many questions, they’ll disappear. They might ghost the victim, or they may create a new excuse to extend the scam. By the time the victim realizes what happened, their money is gone, and the scammer has moved on to their next target.

Red flags of a romance scam

Watch out for these red flags in an online date, which may indicate a romance scam:

• The relationship moves too quickly
• They avoid video calls and in-person meet ups
• The scammer will try to communicate on another app, separate from where you started talking
• Their profile is too good to be true
• Their family is struggling and/or someone is injured or sick
• They constantly need money
• They ask for personal information
• They ask for your online banking credentials and/or bank account information
• They’re frequently “traveling” or “deployed”

If you’ve fallen victim

It’s important to know that falling victim to a romance scam is in no way a reflection on the victim’s intelligence or worth. Scammers are experts at manipulation, and anyone can fall for their schemes.

If you’ve fallen for a romance scam, immediately stop all contact with the scammer.

• Report the scam to the FTC and the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).
• Lock your MSGCU debt and credit cards with mobile banking. Learn more.
• Contact MSGCU and any other financial institution you bank with to secure your accounts and review transactions.
• Finally, let your friends and family know about the scam so they can support you and so they can also be aware of the circulating ruse.

Love is real and unfortunately, so are scammers. Stay safe, trust your instincts, and remember: real love doesn’t come with a price tag.

Category: Security