Dating Scams On The Rise: Signs To Watch Out For

I’m sure you’ve noticed, but the number of spam calls and requests for people to be added to your WhatsApp have absolutely skyrocketed recently.

But that’s not the only kind of scam that’s on the rise. According to research by security company Avast, dating scams are up this year from the previous year.

In the first half of 2026, the number of UK dating scam attacks rose 32% from the second half of last year.

“This isn’t a fringe risk,” said Luis Corrons, a security expert from Avast.

Of those who say they’ve been targeted, 38% went on to become victims, and nine in 10 lost money, Corrons explained.

He said losses can reach up to £30,000, while Amber Higgins, CEO of US-based dating check website Stud or Dud, revealed she’s seen losses of up to $1 million (equivalent to roughly £750,000).

“There’s an emotional toll to realising a relationship you believed in wasn’t real, and in some cases there are safety risks too, especially once someone has shared personal details like their home address or daily routine with a stranger,” she said.

People on dating apps could be particularly susceptible to scams, Corrons said, because so much of early dating happens behind a screen.

“Emotional vulnerability and financial distress are both factors which can make a person more susceptible to fraud, but perhaps surprisingly, so is digital confidence,” Corrons explained.

“Romance scams persist because so much of modern life now runs through a screen. For many people, the early weeks of a relationship happen entirely online, and the normalisation of this gives the scammer time to build trust.”

There is a lot of stigma attached to being the victim of a scam, said Corrons, but it could happen to anyone.

“Being digitally savvy does not make someone immune to fraud,” he said.

“Our research found Gen Z are the most confident generation online, yet 61% of those targeted fell for a scam, compared with 36% of Baby Boomers.”

Scammers target those who want a relationship, which can be a vulnerable state, so make sure you stay alert to signs that someone isn’t who they say they are.

When so many dating profiles are terrible, coming across a rare good one can feel exciting.

But if a profile looks too good to be true, it probably is, explained Higgins.

“Scammers tend to lean on things that are easy to fake but hard to verify quickly, such as a flattering job title, a few curated photos, or a fabricated career that sounds impressive but is difficult to check on the spot,” she said.

They might also change their location to make it look like they are nearby, even if they’re operating from another country, explained Corrons.

Dating scammers rely on classic tools of manipulation, such as lovebombing (premature declarations of love and commitment).

Watch out for big statements early on in conversations, advised Corrons.

“Be wary of a relationship moving very fast, pressure to move the conversation off the dating app to WhatsApp or Telegram, repeated excuses to avoid a video call or meeting in person, and stories which change over time,” he said.

“Romance scammers often use intense messages and declarations of love early on to create a strong emotional connection.

“Over time, they work on the victim’s feelings more directly, making them more dependent on the relationship and drawing them away from friends and family.”

“The biggest red flag is being asked for money by someone you have never met,” said Corrons.

If they don’t come straight out and say it, there are a few ways dating scammers can ask you for money.

“Any mention of money, whether it’s a loan, an investment opportunity, or a sudden emergency, should immediately raise questions, no matter how convincing the story around it is,” explained Higgins.

Scammers often tie financial requests to a “fabricated crisis”, according to Corrons, which could include a medical emergency, travel problem, or legal trouble.

“By then the victim feels they are helping a partner, which is why these requests are so hard to refuse,” Corrons explained.

“Scammers sometimes ask for payment in gift cards, but the most common methods are cryptocurrency and bank transfers, and these are where victims lose much larger amounts.”

If you’ve not met someone face-to-face, it’s hard to verify whether what they’re saying is true.

Always video call someone you’re speaking to on a dating app earlier rather than later, said Higgins, to make sure they are who they say they are.

“A video call early on is one of the simplest and most effective steps, since it’s much harder to fake a real-time conversation than a photo,” she explained.

However, even video calls aren’t entirely reliable, according to Corrons, as criminal networks are now using artificial intelligence (AI) to “supercharge” their scams.

They can generate convincing fake photos, cloned voices and even fake video calls, he said.

“It lets them run many more conversations at once with fewer people and can be used to study a victim’s online activity and tailor messages to how they are feeling,” said Corrons.

“The result is manipulation which feels personal, at a much larger scale, and which is harder to spot.”

If something feels off, using Google to ‘reverse image search’ their photos or looking up their name on LinkedIn can reveal plenty of truths (speaking from experience).

“Beyond that, pay attention to whether someone’s story holds up across conversations,” suggested Higgins. “Public records can help here too.”

If their profile is created by AI, these searches might not be fruitful, said Corrons.

“A reverse image search can still help to catch stolen photos, but scammers can now use AI to create convincing fake identities from scratch, with realistic photos and a made-up history to go with them,” he said.

“As these photos aren’t taken from a real person, they won’t show up in a search.”

The number one rule is “don’t send money to someone you haven’t met in person”, said Corrons, adding that fraudsters “often create pressure, emergencies or emotional ultimatums to encourage quick payments”.

If you suspect you’re being targeted, call on a trusted friend or family member to get a second opinion.

“Romance fraud also works partly through isolation, as scammers count on their target being emotionally invested and this clouding their judgement,” the expert added.

“Talk to someone you trust. Tell a friend or family member about the relationship, particularly before sending money.

“An outside perspective can help identify pressure or inconsistencies which are harder to recognise when emotions are involved.”

If you think you’ve been targeted, stop contact with the person, keep screenshots and payment details, call your bank, and report the account to the platform, the expert ended.