Scam Database
Browse our comprehensive directory of romance scam types and techniques.
20 scam types documented20 results
Danger: 5/5
Pig butchering: the crypto romance scam
The scammer builds a romantic relationship then steers you toward fake crypto investments. Losses can reach hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Avg. loss: $20,000 – $500,000+
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Danger: 5/5
Sextortion: intimate photo blackmail
The scammer obtains intimate photos or videos then threatens to share them publicly. Paying never stops the demands.
Avg. loss: $500 – $10,000
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Danger: 5/5
Deepfake video call scam
The scammer uses AI to generate a face in real time during video calls, making video verification useless. A fast-growing threat.
Avg. loss: $10,000 – $500,000+
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Danger: 5/5
Money mule scam: when the victim becomes an accomplice
The scammer convinces the victim to transfer money through their bank account. The victim becomes a "mule" and faces criminal prosecution.
Avg. loss: Criminal risk
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Danger: 4/5
Medical emergency scam
The scammer fakes a hospitalization or serious illness to urgently request money. A classic technique that exploits empathy and panic.
Avg. loss: $2,000 – $30,000
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Danger: 4/5
Military romance scam
The scammer impersonates a deployed soldier overseas. The military identity justifies not meeting and creates urgency for money requests.
Avg. loss: $10,000 – $100,000
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Danger: 4/5
Oil rig scam
The scammer claims to be an engineer on an offshore oil platform, justifying isolation and the impossibility of video calls or meeting in person.
Avg. loss: $5,000 – $80,000
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Danger: 4/5
Celebrity impersonation scam
The scammer impersonates a celebrity (actor, singer, athlete) and uses deepfakes to convince the victim of an exclusive relationship.
Avg. loss: $10,000 – $830,000
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Danger: 4/5
Identity theft through romance scam
The scammer uses the romantic relationship to collect your personal data (ID, bank details) and steal your identity for further fraud.
Avg. loss: Long-term damage
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Danger: 4/5
Love bombing and isolation: emotional manipulation
The scammer overwhelms the victim with declarations of love before isolating them from friends and family. A control technique that precedes financial requests.
Avg. loss: Variable
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Danger: 4/5
Romance scams on Facebook and Instagram
Facebook and Instagram are the most used social networks by romance scammers. Friend requests, comments, DMs: multiple approach vectors.
Avg. loss: $5,000 – $100,000
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Danger: 4/5
Wrong number text scam
A stranger texts you "by mistake" and starts a conversation. This technique is often the gateway to a pig butchering scam.
Avg. loss: Variable (pig butchering gateway)
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Danger: 3/5
Travel fee scam
The scammer claims they want to visit you but asks you to pay for plane tickets, visas, or other travel expenses that never materialize.
Avg. loss: $500 – $5,000
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Danger: 3/5
Gift card scam
The scammer asks for gift cards (iTunes, Google Play, Amazon) as an untraceable payment method. A simple but extremely common technique.
Avg. loss: $200 – $3,000
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Danger: 3/5
Inheritance romance scam
The scammer claims to have a frozen inheritance and asks for your financial help to release it, promising to share the fortune with you.
Avg. loss: $2,000 – $20,000
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Danger: 3/5
Catfishing: fake identity online
The scammer uses stolen photos and a fake identity to build a fictitious relationship. Catfishing is the foundation of most romance scams.
Avg. loss: $0 – $100,000+
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Danger: 3/5
Tinder scams: traps you need to know
Tinder is the most exploited platform by romance scammers. Fake profiles, bots, pig butchering, and sextortion all thrive on the app.
Avg. loss: Variable
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Danger: 3/5
Fake matchmaking agency scam
Fraudulent agencies promise introductions to Eastern European or Asian women. Pay-per-letter models, fake profiles, and ghost translators.
Avg. loss: $2,000 – $20,000
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Danger: 3/5
Customs package scam
The scammer claims to have sent you a valuable package stuck in customs and asks you to pay fake clearance fees to release it.
Avg. loss: $1,000 – $15,000
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Danger: 2/5
Sugar daddy scam
A fake "sugar daddy" or "sugar mommy" offers money for companionship, then asks for registration fees or bank details to steal from you.
Avg. loss: $100 – $2,000
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