Romance scams are deceptive schemes where fraudsters create fake online personas to build romantic relationships with unsuspecting victims, ultimately manipulating them for financial gain. Here are 10 real stories of romance scams from 2025:
79-Year-Old Toledo Man Loses $125,000 in Romance Scam
A 79-year-old recently divorced man from Toledo, Ohio, fell victim to a romance scam, losing over $125,000. The scam began in July 2024 when he received a text from "Lisa Love," leading to conversations and video calls that built his trust. The scammer convinced him to invest his life savings in a fraudulent gold investment scheme, with the funds ultimately transferred to an account in Vietnam. After the transfer, "Lisa" disappeared. The victim, who contemplated suicide, is now working with Toledo Police and the FBI, though recovery of the funds is unlikely. He shared his story to warn others, emphasizing how easily he was deceived despite his initial skepticism.
Source: WTOL
AI-Powered Elon Musk Impersonator Scams Elderly Woman Out of $600K
An elderly woman in Charlotte fell victim to a romance scam, losing her entire life savings of over $600,000. The scammer posed as Elon Musk, using artificial intelligence to mimic his voice in messages and calls. The victim believed she was investing money with the real Elon Musk, making large wire transfers and daily ATM withdrawals to purchase gift cards for the fraudsters. The scam unfolded over less than a year, completely depleting the woman's savings. The Better Business Bureau warns that romance scams are increasingly common, especially those that pivot to investment advice on dating apps. This case highlights the growing threat of AI-enhanced scams targeting vulnerable individuals seeking companionship online.
Source: WSOC-TV
Brad Pitt Impersonator Scams French Woman Out of €830,000 in AI-Powered Romance Fraud
A 53-year-old French interior designer named Anne fell victim to an elaborate romance scam, losing €830,000 to a fraudster impersonating actor Brad Pitt. The scammer used AI-generated images and fake social media profiles to convince Anne she was in a relationship with Pitt for over a year and a half. The impersonator claimed to need money for cancer treatment due to frozen accounts from his divorce proceedings. Anne realized the deception after seeing a photo of Pitt with his real partner. Brad Pitt's spokesperson addressed the incident, warning fans about unsolicited online outreach from celebrities without social media presence. The story went viral, leading to the French TV channel removing the episode due to online ridicule, despite reports of Anne's mental health issues and hospitalization.
Source: The Guardian
From Romance to Ruin: £200K Lost in Online Dating Fraud
A Northern Irish man fell victim to a romance scam, losing over £200,000 between 2020 and 2022. The scammer, whom he met on a dating app, convinced him to send money for various fabricated emergencies, including medical bills and legal fees related to a wealthy grandmother's will. Despite never meeting in person, the victim continued to provide financial support, eventually depleting his savings and accruing debt. The scam's emotional and financial toll was severe, leaving the man feeling ashamed and devastated. Fortunately, after reporting the incident to the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), the entire sum was recovered. The PSNI used this case to highlight the prevalence of romance scams, revealing that 127 such scams were reported in the past year, with victims losing over £1 million collectively. They urge the public to be cautious of online relationships where financial requests are made and emphasize that victims should not feel embarrassed to report these crimes.
Source: BBC
Heartbreak and Bankruptcy: $500K Lost in 9-Month Online Love Scam
In Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, a woman lost $500,000 over the course of nine months to a man she met online. The scammer coerced the woman into believing he needed financial help, resulting in her sending bank drafts, cash, and cryptocurrency.
Source: VOCM
Indiana 'Businessman' Cons Woman Out of $26K in Love Scam
Beth Hyland, a woman from Portage, Michigan, lost $26,000 to a romance scammer posing as a project manager from Fort Wayne. The scammer, who called himself Richard, built a deep emotional connection with Beth over months before requesting money.
Source: WRTV
Nationwide Manhunt: $275K Romance Scam Suspect on the Run
A 30-year-old man is wanted by Ontario police for allegedly orchestrating a widespread romance scam that defrauded 11 victims across four Canadian provinces of $275,000. The suspect, who posed as a military member stationed overseas, used social media to initiate relationships with victims between June 2020 and September 2021. He convinced them to send money for his supposed transition home from deployment, promising reimbursement. The man failed to appear in court in January and is now wanted for multiple offenses, including fraud and possession of property obtained by crime.
Source: Global News
Scotland's Serial Romance Scammer: The Christopher Harkins Case
Christopher Harkins, one of Scotland's most prolific romance fraudsters, was jailed for 12 years in July 2024 after a long history of predatory behavior. Between 2012 and 2019, nine women separately reported Harkins to Police Scotland for various offenses, including financial fraud, non-consensual intimate recordings, and threats. However, these reports were often dismissed as "civil matters." A BBC investigation revealed that Harkins continued his scams until 2020, targeting successful women through dating apps and defrauding them of over £214,000. He was eventually convicted of 19 offenses, including rape and fraud, following a newspaper article that prompted police to revisit historical reports. The case highlights the evolution of police understanding of abuse and the importance of taking early reports of financial abuse seriously.
Source: BBC
Thai Woman Arrested in $182.8 Million Romance Scam Linked to EssilorLuxottica Embezzlement
A 52-year-old Thai woman, Orathai, was arrested at Hat Yai International Airport for her alleged involvement in Thailand's largest romance scam. She is accused of opening bank accounts used to launder 6.2 billion Baht ($182.8 million) at the request of her Nigerian boyfriend. The scam came to light in March 2020 when Chamanun Phetporee, the CFO of EssilorLuxottica's local branch, was arrested for embezzling company funds after falling victim to a romance scam. Chamanun made 251 transfers to 112 bank accounts across 17 countries over three months, believing she was helping a U.S. army doctor in Afghanistan. The case highlights the growing issue of transnational romance scams originating from Southeast Asia, with the FTC reporting $1.14 billion in losses from such scams in 2023 alone.
Source: The Record
Widower Loses $50K in Tinder Romance Scam
A 72-year-old man from Lake County fell victim to a romance scam, losing $50,000 to a woman he met on Tinder. After losing his wife of 43 years, Gary turned to online dating but was deceived by a scammer using the name "Nasha." The fraudster gained his trust over several months of chatting, eventually convincing him to invest in gold trading. When Gary tried to retrieve his money, he realized he had been scammed. He reported the incident to the Better Business Bureau and is now warning others to be cautious when using dating apps, emphasizing the emotional vulnerability that scammers exploit.
Source: NBC 5 Chicago
How to Protect Yourself From Romance Fraud?
- Never send money or gifts to someone you haven't met in person.
- Be cautious about sharing personal information online, especially with strangers.
- Research the person's photo and profile using reverse image searches and online searches.
- Take things slowly and ask lots of questions to identify inconsistencies in their stories.
- Be aware if someone quickly professes love or tries to isolate you from friends and family.
- Don't trust someone who always has excuses for why they can't meet in person.
- Be suspicious of requests to move communication off dating sites to private channels.
- Watch out for common phrases scammers use like urgent requests for money or investment advice.
- Talk to friends or family about your online relationships for an outside perspective.
- Trust your instincts - if something feels off, it probably is.
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