Online romance and "can't-miss" investments
Never send money or gifts to someone you have not met in person, and be very careful with anyone online who steers you toward investing.
If this is happening to you right now
- Stop. Do not pay, click, or share any code or password.
- Hang up or stop replying.
- Tell someone you trust. Scammers want it kept secret.
- Look up the real number yourself before calling anyone back.
How this scam works
- You meet someone on a dating site, app, or social media, and they want to move the chat off the platform. You may talk several times a day.
- They say they cannot meet in person (far away, military, overseas work, oil rig) or keep cancelling.
- Eventually there is an emergency (medical bill, plane ticket) or they say they can help you invest in cryptocurrency or the stock market. The FTC says it is all a scam to get your money.
- The FBI's IC3 lists investment as the top loss category for people 60+ in 2025, about $3.5 billion, and romance/confidence about $584 million (reported complaints only).
Warning signs
- Cannot meet in person, or always cancels.
- Asks for money for any reason, or for how to send it: wire, gift cards, payment app, crypto.
- Talks about investing and expertise in crypto.
- Your friends and family are worried about this person.
What to do
- Never send money or gifts to someone you have not met in person (FTC).
- Stop communicating and talk to someone you trust.
- Search the person's claimed job plus the word "scammer", and do a reverse image search of their profile picture (FTC).
- Beware of "recovery" offers after a loss. AARP's 2026 outlook warns scammers pose as law enforcement, lawyers or advocates and charge fees to recover lost money.
- Save messages and receipts, report, and contact your bank. AARP's Helpline is a good place to talk it through. Shame is the main reason people do not report; you are not alone.
Where to report it
- FTC: ReportFraud.ftc.gov
- FBI IC3: ic3.gov
- The app or site where you met them: Use its report button
- AARP Fraud Watch Helpline: 877-908-3360
More: full reporting directory · what to do after you paid · family safety plan
Common questions
Is it a romance scam if we have never met but they seem sincere?
The FTC's bottom line: never send money or gifts to a sweetheart you have not met in person.
How common is this?
AARP's Feb 3, 2026 release says nearly 1 in 10 adults 50+ (about 11 million Americans) report being asked for money or to invest in crypto after an online romantic connection. It is a survey, not an exact count.
Sources
Last verified: October 17, 2026. We link to the original public pages. Hotline hours and agency advice can change; check the linked page.
- What To Know About Romance Scams (FTC; undated page)
- Why can't that new love interest meet in person? (FTC Consumer Alert; Feb 12, 2026)
- Romance Scams Put Millions of Adults 50-plus at Risk (AARP press release; Feb 3, 2026)
- Biggest Fraud and Scams to Watch for in 2026 (AARP; 2026)
- Elder Fraud tri-fold (2025 data) (FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3); 2026)