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A romance scam is a fraud that exploits the illusion of an emotional relationship to obtain money, personal information, or psychological control of the victim. Often behind false profiles and well-constructed stories, structured criminal organizations are hidden, capable of manipulating emotions and behavior with increasingly refined techniques. According to the most recent data, the number of cases is constantly increasing, and in 2024 alone, it is estimated that romance scams caused more than 1 billion euros in damage globally.
It all starts with a friendly message or a like received on an app or social network. The profile looks real: curated photos, believable biography, a respectable job. The person starts chatting in a nice, polite, interested tone. In the first few days, he presents himself in an empathetic way, asking personal questions and showing attention to every detail. This creates a bond that appears authentic.
At this point, the scammer speeds up. The messages become more and more affectionate, an unexpected declaration of love arrives, we talk about future projects. But when a real encounter is proposed, something always goes wrong. There is an unexpected event, a mishap, an excuse related to business trips or family problems. Alternatively, you avoid video calling, saying you don't feel ready or have connection problems.
After a few weeks or months, the request for help arrives. This could be an urgent medical expense, a flight to book, a suitcase stuck at customs, or a problem with the bank. The tone is dramatic, urgent, full of confidence. The goal is to create emotional pressure, relying on guilt, love, or concern. If the victim sends money, the requests will continue until they become suspicious or the available funds run out.
Scammers don't target naive people, but people who are emotionally involved. Nobody thinks that it can happen to themselves. Precisely for this reason, victims often do not report, feel ashamed, feel complicit or unable to recognize the deception. But romance scams are designed to overcome any logical barrier, using complex psychological strategies. Every message, every photo, every silence is designed to strengthen trust.
Many scammers study human behavior, read signals, use language models, even artificial intelligence to automate part of the answers. Some are active on dozens of chats at the same time. Others exploit images stolen from real social profiles or use the identities of untraceable professionals. In any case, they aim to hit the primary emotions: the need for love, a sense of protection, fear of abandonment.
There are several signs that may indicate an attempted romance scam, even if disguised as good intentions. When a person you've just met asks for intimate details right away, but avoids really telling about themselves, it's good to stop and reflect. Likewise, if he asks to immediately move the conversation to a more private channel, such as WhatsApp or Telegram, he may want to evade the controls of the original platform.
Another warning sign is the speed with which the relationship develops. Phrases like 'you are my soul mate' or 'I want to spend my life with you' after a few days of chatting are not romantic: they are tools of manipulation. If you add to all this the impossibility of seeing each other or making a video call, the chances of being in front of a scammer increase. Finally, the most obvious sign is the request for money, whatever the stated motivation or urgency.
Prevention is the first form of defense. You should never share personal data, private photos, or bank information with people you just met online. It is useful to do a reverse search of profile images, verify the existence of the user on other channels and pay attention to the consistency of the information shared.
Talking about it with friends or family can also help: an external point of view allows us to grasp inconsistencies that, as lovers, we might ignore. Trusting is important, but verifying is crucial. If something seems too perfect, it probably is. In addition, if in doubt, it is possible to use free online verification tools, such as those offered by Welo, to understand if a site or identity shows suspicious signs.
The moment you suspect that you have been the victim of a romance scam, it is essential to act quickly. Stopping all communication immediately is the first step. In the case of economic transactions, you should immediately contact your bank or the payment service used to try to block the funds. It's a good idea to change all of your account passwords, especially those that may have been compromised.
It is equally important to report the fact to the competent authorities, such as the postal police, and to report the profile to the meeting platform used. Even if you feel embarrassed or angry, reporting is an act of responsibility to yourself and others. Many scams are repeated because those who suffer them do not talk about them. Instead, sharing experience can help prevent other cases and strengthen the culture of digital security.
Welo was founded with a clear objective: to make the web a safer and more transparent place. Every day we receive requests from users who want to verify a site, platform or company. But more and more often we are also being reported to suspicious profiles, dubious online relationships, or cases where people simply want to know if they can trust someone.
Through our free analyses and our security badges, we help companies and individuals build healthier digital relationships, based on trust and verification. If you have a question about a site or a person you meet online, visit our site and request a free check. Prevention starts with awareness.
If you have even a question about a website, a link received or a suspicious profile, don't wait to become a victim. From today, thanks to Welo, you can Check in a few seconds if a site is trustworthy or not, directly online and without registration. Just enter the address to get a complete analysis based on security, legality, privacy and reputation criteria.
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