Sweetheart Scams: How to Avoid Being a Victim
Published: 21 February 2025
More than 6,700 people over 60 lost $367 million to sweetheart scams in 2023. NCOA's essential guide reveals why the pandemic made things worse—virtual dating gave scammers perfect excuses to avoid meeting. Learn to recognize 'love bombing,' the overwhelming flattery that clouds judgment, and discover why that person who keeps canceling plans probably isn't stuck at work. From spotting fake profiles to protecting yourself from sextortion, this article arms you with strategies scammers don't want you to know, plus exactly what to do if you realize you've been conned.
Recognizing Red Flags in Online Romance
Published: 31 October 2025
Annie thought she'd found the perfect friend—a widowed architect from California who really understood her. She was wrong. AARP's powerful podcast follows this grandmother's journey into an elaborate romance scam, revealing the subtle red flags many miss. Why do scammers' photos look like fashion magazines? Why the sudden switch from dating sites to email? This guide exposes scammer tactics while offering practical defense strategies: the Google image search that could save you, the conversation patterns that signal danger, and why making first contact doesn't mean you're safe.
Romance Scams
Published: 19 August 2024
They're not just scammers—they're students of human nature who keep journals tracking your vulnerabilities. The FBI reveals the disturbing truth about romance fraud criminals who infiltrate dating sites and social media, often posing as construction workers overseas. If someone you've never met needs your bank account information to 'deposit money,' you're about to become an unwitting accomplice in money laundering. Learn why that too-perfect match is probably rehearsed, discover the questions that make scammers uncomfortable, and find out how to report suspicious activity to ic3.gov before you become a statistic.