Authorities are warning individuals, particularly seniors, about an increase in romance scams this Valentine’s Day, where criminals steal more than just hearts—they’re also swindling victims of millions. In 2023 alone, romance scams accounted for over $1.14 billion in losses. Scammers typically use fake identities to earn affection and trust, eventually stealing money from their victims.
As part of a nationwide effort to raise awareness, the FBI’s Philadelphia office and the U.S. Postal Service have issued strong warnings about the dangers of falling for such scams. Officials are advising people to stay vigilant and recognize warning signs.
One red flag is that these criminals often profess their love very quickly, sometimes within hours or just a few days of contact. They’ll also find numerous excuses to avoid in-person meetings, citing things like medical emergencies or travel expenses. In one case, a 76-year-old woman in Georgia was tricked into sending her life savings of $70,000 to an online man she thought she was in a relationship with. Unfortunately, she may never see that money again.
Scammers also use increasingly sophisticated technology to deceive their victims. For example, some fraudsters use AI-generated versions of celebrities, such as Brad Pitt, to impersonate them. This use of artificial intelligence is making it harder to distinguish between real people and fake online personas. In one case, a woman in her fifties lost almost $850,000 to a scammer posing as a celebrity.
One senior-focused banking platform recently published a list of celebrities most frequently impersonated by fraudsters. The top three names on the list were Keanu Reeves, Jason Momoa, and Sandra Bullock. As the use of AI technology continues to evolve, it’s making it more difficult to tell the difference between genuine connections and fraudulent schemes. Authorities urge everyone to be cautious when developing online relationships and to recognize that if something feels too good to be true, it probably is.