Romance scams surged again last year
Romance scam losses rose in 2025, after a welcome decline the year before. Victorians lost significantly more to fake love last year and the emotional toll matches the financial damage.
www.consumer.vic.gov.auHere’s the latest high-level overview of romance scams based on recent reporting.
-
Overview of trend
- Romance scams continue to be among the most lucrative fraud categories online, with tens of thousands of cases and billions in losses reported in recent years. For example, the FTC highlighted multi-billion-dollar losses in 2023 across the U.S., underscoring the scale and ongoing risk. This reflects a persistent pattern of scammers exploiting trust built online to extract money from victims.[2]
-
Notable recent figures and themes
- In 2023, U.S. reports of romance-scam losses totaled over $1.1 billion with around 64,000 reported cases, indicating both volume and severity of impact. Warning voices emphasize that scammers often use social media and dating platforms to initiate contact and gradually request money through fabricated emergencies or opportunities.[2]
- Older comparable data show substantial losses and high susceptibility across age groups, with headlines highlighting “surges” in romance scams and notable individual cases illustrating the emotional and financial harm involved.[1]
-
Regional and country notes
- Reports from consumer protection and media outlets in various regions (including Australia and the UK) emphasize rising losses and evolving deception tactics, such as more sophisticated profiles, long con narratives, and use of remote or urgent-banking stories to trigger money transfers.[5][6]
-
Protection and awareness
- Authorities and consumer groups consistently advise vigilance: verify identities independently, avoid transferring funds to online acquaintances, watch for red flags such as rapid relationship intensification, pressure to move money or share financial details, and requests to communicate off-platform. Educational resources and alerts are commonly updated around Valentine’s Day and other periods of heightened online dating activity.[3][4][5]
-
Quick example perspective
- A notable press point is that the FTC has warned of substantial annual losses and ongoing risk, reinforcing the message that romance scams are a real and persistent threat online (with emphasis on lessons and protective steps).[3][2]
If you’d like, I can pull the most recent region-specific updates (e.g., U.S., UK, Australia) and summarize any new scam tactics or notable court actions. I can also tailor practical steps for Dallas-area residents or provide a short checklist to spot red flags and safer dating practices.