Text that says "Romance scams" on a red background with love hearts and cupid's arrow

Ahead of Valentine’s Day, we’re advising people looking for love to recognise the signs of a romance scam.

While romances that start on dating apps, social media and other digital channels result in happy relationships for many, there are also serious risks involved when seeking love online.

Romance scammers target people by creating fake online identities, with a profile designed to lure people looking for a relationship. Once you’re involved, they use a range of tactics to build your trust, with the ultimate goal of using your vulnerability to steal your money.

Scammers continue to change the way they target people. They adapt tactics and use a wide range of channels including gaming apps and social media.

The cost of romance scams

In 2024, people aged 55 and over reported losing more than $12 million to romance scams. That’s well over half the national total lost to this type of scam. But it’s not just older people who are targeted, with Australians aged 25 to 54 making more than 1,000 reports and losing more than $5.5 million to romance scams.

Watch out for the red flags

When a romance scammer initially contacts you, they may sound like an ideal match. They might have an appealing profile and claim to have similar interests or experiences to you.

Scammers may use a fake name or steal the identity of real people to create their online profile. They’ll exchange messages, photos or videos with you, but these are likely to be stolen or even AI-generated.

Be aware of common warning signs:

  • The online relationship moves fast and they express strong feelings early on.
  • They quickly try to move your chat from a social media platform or online to free messaging platforms like WhatsApp, WeChat, Signal, Telegram or Line.
  • They say they have some sort of ‘emergency’ and ask you to transfer money to help. They may also ask you to:
    • pay for tickets to come and meet you.
    • send money through a third party, such as a lawyer or accountant.
    • invest in ‘easy money’ schemes, such as cryptocurrency.
  • Instead of sharing your relationship, they want you to keep things secret. They might try to cut you off from family and friends.
  • They make excuses why they can’t meet in person or via live video chat – e.g. they say they're overseas or somewhere remote or their technology isn’t working.

Steps to protect yourself

Thoroughly research your prospective partner by:

  • reviewing their LinkedIn or Facebook profiles, including checking friends and followers.
  • doing a ‘reverse search’ of their profile pictures or photos they’ve shared. You can do this on Google’s search page by clicking on the “search by image” icon in the search bar.
  • insisting on meeting in person or via live video chat when you first connect.

Be careful with information you share about yourself. You should:

  • be mindful of your own profile across social media channels, particularly personal information you share. Scammers may use details to target you.
  • never share personal identification documents such as your driver’s licence, passport, banking or credit card details.
  • be wary of sharing explicit or intimate images with someone you’ve only ever met online, even over apps that don’t store images. Scammers may find a way of recording these images and using them to their advantage later.

If you’ve been scammed

People who’ve been through a romance scam can experience embarrassment, disbelief, shock and trauma. But it’s important to understand you’re not alone, that there are actions you can take, there’s help available, and reporting your experience can help others.

  • If you’ve already shared your bank account details or transferred money, contact your bank or financial institution immediately.
  • A scammer might try to set up new mobile phone accounts in your name or access your superannuation account, so contact police if you think you may be at risk of fraud or identify theft.
  • If a friend or family member seems to be caught in a romance scam, talk to them about the warning signs and share tips on staying safe. For more, see scamwatch.gov.au/types-of-scams/dating-romance.
  • You can make a report to Scamwatch or report a cybercrime to ReportCyber.
  • For confidential and free advice, or if you need to talk to someone, contact: