Federal government websites often end in. The site is secure. Millions of people use online dating apps or social networking sites to meet someone. But instead of finding romance, many find a scammer trying to trick them more sending money.

Read about the stories romance scammers make up and dating the number one way to avoid a romance scam. You meet someone special on a dating website or app. Soon they want to email, call, or message you off the platform. Then they start asking for money. Or emergency surgery. Or something else urgent. Romance scammers create fake profiles on dating sites and apps or contact you through popular social media sites like Instagram or Facebook.

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The scammers strike up a relationship with you to build up trust, sometimes talking or chatting several times a day. Then, they dating up a story and ask for money. Inpeople reported paying romance scammers more with gift cards than with any other payment method. The reports also showed that cryptocurrency payments were the most costly. Scammers do these things to pressure you into acting immediately by paying money.

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If you paid a romance scammer with a gift card, wire transfer, credit or debit card, or cryptocurrency, contact the company or your bank right away. Tell them you paid a scammer and ask them to refund your money.

Notify the social networking site or app where you met the scammer, too. Our Anatomy of an Imposter Scam blog series breaks down how to recognize, avoid, and report click here and government imposter scams. What Is a Romance Scam? Search Terms.

What to Know About Romance Scams

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