In a world where swipes and likes dictate first impressions, online dating has revolutionized how we connect. But with this digital convenience comes a dark underbelly: internet dating fraud. And if you think it’s rare or “only happens to careless people,” think again.
Scammers have mastered the art of deception romance fraud alone cost Americans over $1.3 billion in 2023, according to the FTC. These aren’t your typical petty criminals. They’re often organized, persistent, and dangerously convincing.
So, how do you stay safe? Let’s break it down question by question.
What Are the Signs of a Dating Scammer?
Scammers often operate in patterns. While their tactics evolve, the red flags tend to look eerily similar:
- They avoid video calls or face-to-face meetings
- Their stories are too good (or too tragic) to be true
- They profess deep love or commitment unusually fast
- They ask for money often subtly at first
- Their grammar or communication feels off or automated
If someone’s behavior sets off even a small alarm in your gut listen to it. That instinct is often your first line of defense.
🧠 How to Tell If Someone Is a Dating Scammer?
Scammers are smooth. They know what you want to hear, and they say it.
But here’s how to test the truth:
- Consistency: Ask them to repeat a past detail; scammers often forget the stories they fabricate
- Time zones: If they say they live in Chicago but reply at 3 a.m. regularly, question it
- Vagueness: Real people share details freely; scammers stay evasive
- Convenient obstacles: They always have a reason to not meet: sick mother, overseas work, etc.
No one who cares about you will dodge simple efforts to verify who they are.
💬 What Are Common Scammer Phrases?
Once you know them, you’ll start spotting them everywhere:
“I’ve never felt this way before even though we haven’t met.”
“I’m traveling for work, but I really want to meet you soon.”
“Can you help me out just this once?”
“I’m having trouble accessing my bank account.”
“I want to send you a gift just need your info.”
These phrases are part of a scammer’s toolkit. They’re designed to build trust fast, then use it against you.
🗣️ What Does a Romance Scammer Say?
A romance scammer’s goal is to emotionally hook you before asking for anything. You may hear things like:
- “My bank account is frozen, but I’ll pay you back soon.”
- “You’re my soulmate I’ve never connected with anyone like this.”
- “My child needs urgent surgery.”
- “I’ve sent you a package, but it’s stuck at customs. Can you pay the fee?”
It often starts with flattery, escalates to sympathy, and ends in financial manipulation.
📲 How Do I Know If I’m Chatting With a Scammer?
Here’s your scammer detection checklist:
✅ Use a reverse image search on their profile photos
✅ Ask for a video call early
✅ Avoid sharing personal information too fast
✅ Look for emotional manipulation techniques
✅ Ask specific questions and track their consistency
✅ Trust your instincts if it feels off, it likely is
Also, always keep communication on the dating platform as long as possible. Scammers try to move conversations to WhatsApp, Telegram, or private email quickly to avoid being reported.
🧠 How to Scare a Text Scammer?
Want to flip the script? Try this:
- Ask them for details only a real person would know (like the street name they say they live on)
- Pretend you’re recording everything for a fraud investigation
- Say you’ve traced their IP (even if you haven’t it’ll rattle them)
- Flat out tell them you know they’re a scammer and report them
But don’t get too cozy “playing detective.” The best thing to do is block, report, and move on.
🚨 Internet Dating Fraud Isn’t Just About Money It’s About Trust
The real loss from romance fraud isn’t always financial it’s emotional. It chips away at your belief in people. You question yourself, your judgment, and your ability to trust again.
That’s why it’s not enough to just “be careful.” We need a better system.
✅ A New Kind of Dating Experience Is Possible
Imagine a dating platform where:
- Every user is human-verified
- Your conversations are end-to-end encrypted
- Your data isn’t sold or even stored unnecessarily
- You don’t feel pressured by algorithms to stay addicted
That platform exists. It’s called Trusted & True.
Built by privacy advocates and backed by real community support not greedy investors Trusted & True is launching with a bold mission: to give dating back to the people. No bots. No scams. No fake profiles. Just real people, honestly connecting.
📣 Join the Movement
If you’ve ever been burned by a dating app or simply want to be part of something better Trusted & True is your chance to make that change.
Join our mailing list. Stay informed. Help us build the future of ethical, private, and truly human connection.
Because dating shouldn’t be dangerous it should be genuine.