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Romance Scams in 2025: How “Online Love” Turns Into Bank Transfers
Romance fraud isn’t just swiping right anymore. Criminals now slide into DMs on Instagram, Facebook, and even professional sites like LinkedIn—then pivot quickly to money. The Federal Trade Commission logged 64,000 romance-scam reports and $1.14 billion in losses in 2023, the highest median loss of any imposter scam.
Because every dollar ultimately moves through a financial account, knowing the red flags is your best defense for your bank accounts.
How Modern Romance Scams Work
Grooming
Weeks of daily chat, love bombing, pet names
Isolation
“Let’s keep our romance private.”
Money Catalyst
Medical bill, customs fee, frozen account, can’t access US banking
Extraction
Multiple escalating requests: “Just until my bonus clears.”
Exit
Ghosts you or pivots to blackmail with shared photos
Top Lies Bankers Hear from Romance-Scam Victims
- “I’m wiring money so my fiancé can fly home.”
- “He needs me to move funds between our accounts to avoid taxes.”
- “She asked me to buy crypto and send it to her wallet for a real-estate deal.”
- “He’s overseas on an oil rig—gift cards are the only way he can pay bills.”
- “She said her bank locked her debit card; I wired money to her ‘attorney’ instead.”
Red Flags You Can Spot Fast
If any request sounds like these, pause and call someone you trust before you hit Send.
Pressure to keep the transfer a secret
Refusal to verify by live video or dodging personal questions only the real person would know
Five Simple Habits That Keep Your Money Safe
Confirm on live video early. Ask them to wave and say today’s date. Deep-fake glitches often appear under pressure.
Never move money into accounts you don’t control. Wires, Zelle, and crypto are nearly impossible to claw back.
Set account alerts in the Country Bank Mobile App so every debit, wire, or payment pings your phone in real time.
Use a family pass-phrase. If someone claims your child or sibling needs help, ask for the secret word first.
Talk it out at a banking center. Our bankers see scam patterns daily; a five-minute chat can save thousands.
Think You’re Caught in a Romance Scam?
- Stop communication immediately. Block on every platform.
- Document everything—screenshots, wallet addresses, emails, phone numbers.
- Contact Country Bank’s Fraud Team at 800-322-8233 or visit your nearest banking center; we’ll help you secure your accounts.
- Report the fraud to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and the FBI’s IC3 portal.
- Lean on support. Victim-support groups and counselors can help with financial and emotional recovery.
Romance scammers don’t need your heart—just your routing number. Slow every financial request to a crawl, verify through sources you already trust, and use real-time account alerts to spot suspicious activity the moment it starts. Stop by any Country Bank banking center if you’d like a free account-security check or help setting up alerts.
Reference List
1. FTC Data Spotlight: “Romance scammers’ favorite lies exposed,” Feb 2023.
2. FBI IC3 Annual Report 2024, Romance Scam section.
3. FBI Common Frauds & Scams – Romance Scams page (ic3.gov).
4. AARP / Time Magazine analysis of romance-scam victim impact, Jan 2025.
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