Here is the latest publicly reported context on romance scams.
- Global and US trends show romance scam losses remain high, with the FTC and other agencies reporting thousands of cases and billions of dollars lost in recent years, underscoring the ongoing risk of online dating fraud.[2][3]
- In 2023, the FTC reported over 64,000 romance-scam cases in the US alone, totaling about $1.1 billion in losses, highlighting the scale and urgency of awareness and prevention efforts.[2]
- Local and international coverage through media outlets notes continued spikes in reported incidents and financial losses, along with guidance from consumer protection agencies on spotting red flags and protecting personal information.[6][7]
- Public-facing resources emphasize common tactics used by scammers—romantic narratives to gain trust, requests for money, and pressure to act quickly—alongside steps like verifying identities, avoiding sharing financial or sensitive information, and reporting suspicious activity.[3][4]
- Vehicle for ongoing updates includes official consumer protection alerts and reputable news outlets that summarize FTC data, regulatory actions, and victim stories to illustrate real-world consequences.[5][7][3]
If you’d like, I can summarize key red flags to watch for, give you a quick prevention checklist, or pull more region-specific updates (e.g., California/LA-area advisories) from trusted sources.
Sources
Romance scam losses rose in 2025, after a welcome decline the year before. Victorians lost significantly more to fake love last year and the emotional toll matches the financial damage.
www.consumer.vic.gov.auIf you’ve seen the news, ‘romance scammers’ are among the eighty defendants
consumer.ftc.govWatch the latest from ITV News - Coleen Greenwood, from North Yorkshire, is sharing her story and offering advice to those embarking on new relationships ahead of Valentine's Day.
www.itv.comRomance scams are on the rise, with victims losing more money than ever before as scammers become increasingly sophisticated, according to new data. ITV National News
www.itv.comDigital romance scams have surged over the past two years, leading to millions of dollars in losses for people who were wooed and then duped out of money.
www.moneycontrol.comIf you’ve seen the news, ‘romance scammers’ are among the eighty defendants
consumer.ftc.govFollow romance and relationship scams news. Spot fake online lovers, emotional fraud, and dating app cons.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com