Romance fraud: in love with someone who doesn't exist
A new online friend is kind, caring and lives far away. After a few weeks, a problem comes up that only you can solve.
1How they do it
- Someone contacts you through a dating site or social media. The profile is attractive, often with stolen photos.
- You are in touch every day. Trust grows.
- Then something happens: a hospital bill, a parcel held at customs, a ticket to come and visit you.
- After the first payment, new problems keep coming.
2A real example
"Darling, I'm stuck at the airport, my card is blocked. With 900 euros I can come to you. I'll pay you back straight away."
3How to spot it
- The person never wants to video call.
- There is always a new problem that costs money.
- You are not allowed to tell anyone.
4How to protect yourself
- Look up the photos with a reverse image search (Google Lens).
- Never send money to someone you have never met in real life.
- Talk about it with someone you trust.
How WolfKey helps
Romance scammers sometimes ask for your password "to help". With WolfKey you don't know your passwords yourself, so you cannot pass them on either.
Get WolfKeySuspicious number, email or website? Check it or report it.
Examples have been made unrecognisable. Names and numbers in the examples are made up.