44% of online daters get targeted by a romance scam. Of those who engage, 74% fall for it. Almost three-quarters. These numbers don't come from some clickbait survey. They're from the Norton Insights Report 2026. And before you think "that would never happen to me" – that's exactly what the other 74% thought too.
The FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center released a warning in April 2024 that's become especially relevant now. It's about a new romance scam scheme where scammers don't spend months building a fake relationship anymore. Instead, they exploit your desire for safety.
The New Romance Scam Scheme: Fake Verification
You match with someone. Looks good, nice chat. Then comes the question: "Can we move to WhatsApp? It's more private there." Sounds harmless, right?
Shortly after, the person sends you a link. "Hey, can you quickly verify yourself here? I just want to make sure you're real. There have been so many fake profiles lately." The website looks professional. Logos from well-known media outlets. Testimonials. Everything seems legitimate.
The problem? The site is part of a verification scam that collects your credit card data for "free" verification. Months later, charges of 30 to 50 euros start appearing on your statement from companies you've never heard of.
As Bitdefender explains, this dating app fraud differs from classic romance fraud. It's not about a large wire transfer after months of emotional manipulation. It's about small, recurring charges and selling your data on the dark web.
Does this sound like an isolated problem? Something that only happens to the "naive"?
The Numbers Tell a Different Story
According to the FBI 2024 Internet Crime Report, there were 17,910 romance scam complaints in the US alone with total losses exceeding 672 million dollars. In one year. That's almost 50 reports per day.
Norton blocked more than 17 million dating app frauds in Q4 2025. That's a 19% increase compared to the previous year, and the curve is trending steeply upward.
And this isn't just an American problem. German police operations in Bavaria documented 450 romance scam cases in 2023 alone with total damages of 5.3 million euros. Average damage per case: 20,000 euros. Romance scams are no longer a rare occurrence.
Why Do Smart People Fall for Romance Scams?
Eric O'Neill, former FBI undercover agent, put it plainly to Malwarebytes: "What cybercriminals know is that we all suffer from a psychology called confirmation bias. When we see something that we desperately want to believe is true, we confirm it to ourselves."
You want your match to be real. You want the person you're chatting with to actually look like their photos. This desire is exactly what romance scam criminals exploit. And it makes all of us vulnerable. Not stupidity, not desperation. Just human hope.
And as if this psychological weakness weren't enough, scammers now have a new tool that makes everything even harder.
AI Makes Everything Worse
The FBI San Francisco warns that criminals are increasingly using artificial intelligence to generate realistic photos, videos, and voice messages. Video calls, which used to serve as proof that someone was real? Can now be faked with deepfakes (AI-generated fake videos).
Documented cases from 2025 show how far this goes. A woman from Charlotte lost over 600,000 dollars to an elaborate romance scam where scammers used AI voice synthesis to impersonate Elon Musk. A French woman lost 830,000 euros to someone who used AI-generated videos to pose as Brad Pitt.
Sounds absurd? That's exactly the problem. We think "that would never happen to me" and that conviction is exactly what romance scammers exploit.
The good news: This scheme has patterns. If you know what to watch for, the fraud becomes obvious.
How to Spot Romance Scams: The Warning Signs
They Want to Switch Platforms Immediately
"Can we move to WhatsApp?" – often after just two or three messages. Why? Dating apps have chat features. They work well. The only reason to lure you off the platform is that the platform has security mechanisms scammers want to bypass. Real matches have no reason to immediately move to WhatsApp or Telegram before you've even gotten to know each other.
They Send You a Verification Link
This is the biggest warning sign. Legitimate dating platforms – every single one – verify users within the app. With a badge. No external website. No credit card. If someone sends you a link saying "verify yourself quickly here," it's almost certainly a scam. External links are a classic warning sign for romance scams. No exceptions.
To improve your fake profile detection skills, also use Google reverse image search.
Pressure and Urgency
Scammers don't want you to think. "Can you do it quickly? I have to go soon." Real people understand when you take your time. This verification scam exploits your legitimate desire for safety.
Too Perfect Profiles
AI-generated images keep getting better, making fake profiles harder to spot. But small details often don't add up. Hands with too many fingers. Backgrounds that blur strangely. Earlobes that aren't symmetrical.
If You've Already Fallen Victim to a Romance Scam
First: Take a breath. This happens to smart, careful people. These scammers are professionals. This is their full-time job, and they're really good at it.
Now you act:
Immediately: Call your bank and have the card blocked. Not tomorrow. Now. The faster you act, the less damage they can cause.
Today:
Check all statements from the last three months for unknown charges
Change passwords on all accounts where you use similar credentials
Take screenshots of all conversations before you block the contact
This week:
File a police report (online is often faster than in person)
Monitor your credit score for signs of identity theft
Consumer protection agencies also recommend securing all evidence and seeking support.
Real Safety Looks Different
Online dating safety starts with choosing the right platform. At SparkChambers, we verify profiles directly in the app, without external links that are typical for romance scams. You don't have to go anywhere else. You don't have to enter credit card data for "security checks." No nonsense. You see a verification badge, or you don't. That's it.
Verified profiles on SparkChambers offer you real online dating safety without hidden costs. Online dating safety isn't a luxury – it's your fundamental right.
Discover verified profiles and experience what real safety feels like. Find more safety tips in our comprehensive online dating safety guidelines.
