Romance & investment scams
A slow build of trust that ends in a request for money or a fake investment.
What it is
These scams begin as a warm online relationship — a romantic match, a friendly new contact, or a mentor — that develops over weeks or months. Once trust is built, the scammer engineers a crisis that needs money, or introduces a can't-lose investment, often in cryptocurrency. The combined form, where romance leads into fake investing, is sometimes called pig butchering.
How it happens
Contact often starts with an unexpected but friendly message on a dating app, social network, or even a wrong-number text. The scammer is patient, attentive, and always has a reason not to meet or video-call. When money enters the picture, a fake trading app may even show your balance growing — until you try to withdraw and the excuses and extra fees begin.
Warning signs
- A new online connection quickly becomes intense and moves off the original app.
- They always avoid meeting in person or on a live video call.
- A sudden emergency, or a private investment tip that promises fast, guaranteed returns.
- Any request to send money, gift cards, or cryptocurrency.
Who it targets
These scams target people who are lonely, grieving, recently divorced, or simply open to new connections — at any age. Investment versions increasingly reach younger, tech-comfortable people who feel confident about crypto. The shame victims feel keeps many from reporting, which is exactly what scammers count on.
How to protect yourself
- Be cautious with anyone who professes strong feelings before ever meeting you.
- Insist on a live video call early; scammers will keep finding reasons to refuse.
- Never mix romance with money — treat any request to send funds as a stop sign.
- Remember that no genuine investment offers guaranteed or unusually fast returns.
- Talk to a trusted friend before acting; an outside view spots what emotion hides.
If it happens to you
- Stop all contact and payments immediately — do not send one more transfer to fix the last.
- Keep the messages and payment records as evidence, and do not delete the account.
- Contact your bank or the payment service; fast reporting sometimes recovers funds.
- Report to your national fraud service, and be wary of follow-up recovery scams.