Practical guides
Learn to protect yourself from romance scams with our practical guides.
Romance scam statistics 2025-2026: global data and trends
The FTC counted $1.49 billion lost to romance scams in 2025, the FBI $929 million (+38% in one year), and UK losses hit £102 million. Verified data on romance fraud across the US, UK and globally.
How to spot a romance scammer in 2026: 12 red flags
From love bombing to scripted messages, these 12 red flags are present in nearly every romance scam. A detailed guide with real examples and expert advice.
What to do if you've been scammed: recovery guide
Immediate steps after discovering a romance scam: stop contact, preserve evidence, report to FBI IC3 and FTC, contact your bank, and begin recovery.
Sextortion: when romance scams turn into blackmail
How romance scams escalate into blackmail through intimate photos. Immediate actions, legal rights, and why paying never stops the threats.
The Tinder Swindler effect: what Netflix got right
Analysis of the Netflix documentary as a case study. Techniques identified, public perception vs reality, and why this type of scam is rarer than classic catfishing.
How to verify someone's identity online: a complete guide
Google Lens, TinEye, Yandex Images, Social Catfish, and our free scam checker. A comprehensive toolkit to verify any online dating profile.
Russian woman scam: myths, realities and how to spot the real ones
Are all Russian women on the internet scammers? No. Most "Russian woman" scams are not committed by Russians. How to tell legitimate profiles from fake ones, and what a serious matchmaking agency does differently.