As Valentine’s Day gets closer, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio is sending out a clear warning: romance scams are on the rise, and people are losing serious money — often through cryptocurrency.
These scams usually start online. It could be a dating app, social media, or even a random message. The person on the other side seems kind, caring, and interested. They take their time. They build trust. Sometimes they talk every day for weeks or even months. It feels real.
But it’s not.
Behind the screen is a scammer who is not looking for love. They are looking for money.
U.S. Attorney David M. Toepfer put it simply: these scammers prey on trust and emotions. They say all the right things. They make you feel special. And then, once they believe you trust them, they ask for money. Officials are urging people never to send money to someone they have not met in person.
Here’s how it usually works.
First, the scammer creates a fake profile. They often use stolen photos of attractive people or even military members. They may claim they work overseas — in the military, on an oil rig, or on an international business trip. This gives them an excuse for why they can’t meet in person.
Next, they move fast emotionally. They might say “I love you” very quickly. They talk about a future together. They make big promises.
Then they try to move the conversation off the dating site and onto private messaging apps. That way, it’s harder for platforms to detect what they’re doing.
After trust is built, the requests begin.
Maybe it’s an “emergency.” They say they need money for medical bills, travel costs, or a sudden crisis. Other times, they talk about an “investment opportunity,” often involving cryptocurrency. They may show fake screenshots of huge profits and promise you can make easy money too.
They might ask for gift cards. They might ask for wire transfers. Increasingly, they ask for cryptocurrency because it’s harder to trace and almost impossible to recover once sent.
These are major red flags.
Other warning signs include:
- Declaring love very early.
- Always having an excuse for why they can’t meet.
- Constant emergencies that require money.
- Pressure to act quickly.
- Requests for unusual payment methods like gift cards or crypto.
In many cases, victims are directed to fake investment websites that look real. At first, the numbers may show big returns. It feels exciting. But when the victim tries to withdraw money, the site suddenly shuts down — and the scammer disappears.
Nationwide, romance and confidence scams have caused huge financial losses, and cryptocurrency is often involved.
The message from officials is simple: slow down and stay cautious. If someone you’ve never met in person asks you for money — especially in gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency — that’s a serious warning sign.
Love should never come with a price tag.
If something feels off, trust your instincts. Talk to a friend or family member before sending any money. And remember, real relationships don’t require secret payments or emergency crypto transfers.
Scammers are getting smarter. But awareness is your best protection.
