online love scam

Romance scams are the highest grossing consumer fraud in the world. In 2022 they cost victims over $1.3 billion in the United States alone — and those are only the reported cases. The average victim loses more than $10,000. Here is exactly how the scam works from the first message to the final disappearance — the scripts, the manipulation tactics, the red flags, and what to do if you or someone you love has been targeted.