Romance scams: months of attention, then the money requests
An online relationship built over weeks or months turns into requests for money for emergencies, visas, or investments.
How it works
The person is attentive, consistent, and always has a reason they cannot video call or meet. Once trust is built, a crisis appears: a medical bill, a customs fee, a frozen bank account. Romance fraud was among the highest-loss frauds reported to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre in 2025, and it increasingly blends into crypto investment requests. Victims are often embarrassed to tell anyone, which is exactly what keeps the scam going.
The tell: A relationship where they can never video call or meet, and then there is a crisis that needs money.
What to do
- Never send money, gift cards, or crypto to someone you have not met in person. Not once.
- Try a reverse image search of their photos. Stolen photos are the norm in these scams.
- If this is happening to you or a family member, talk about it without judgement. Then report it. You are not alone and it is not your fault.
Sources
If this has already happened to you, our scam recovery visit can lock down your accounts and devices. And if you are just not sure whether something is a scam, asking us is always free.