Cupid Doesn’t Ask for Crypto: U.S. Attorney’s Office Warns Public About Romance Scams Ahead of Valentine’s Day

CLEVELAND - As Valentine's Day approaches, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Ohio warns the public to remain vigilant against romance scams. The criminals behind these scams shamelessly exploit the trust and emotion of their victims through online relationships.

Fraudsters will target victims on dating websites, social media platforms, and messaging apps and pose as potential romantic partners. They patiently cultivate relationships over weeks or months before they ask the victim to give them money for fake emergencies, travel expenses, investment opportunities, or medical crises. Hundreds of millions of dollars are lost each year due to these scams which are often operated by organized criminal networks, including transnational fraud rings.

"Romance scammers are not looking for love-they are looking for money," said United States Attorney David M. Toepfer for the Northern District of Ohio. "They prey on trust and emotion and often target older Americans and vulnerable individuals. We urge everyone to slow down, verify identities, and never send money to someone they have not met in person."

Scammers will:

• Create fake profiles using stolen photos.
• Claim to work overseas in the military, on oil rigs, or in international business.
• Quickly profess love or deep commitment.
• Move conversations off dating and social media platforms over to private messaging apps.

If they do any of the following, consider it a red flag:

• Declare strong feelings very early in the relationship.
• Refuse to meet in person, or make excuses for why they can't meet in person.
• Have constant emergencies requiring financial assistance.
• Request payment in the form of gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfer.
• Keep changing their stories or use poor grammar, inconsistent with their claimed background.
• Ask you to receive and/or forward funds or packages-sometimes turning victims into unwitting "money mules."

U.S. Attorney's Office recommendations to protect yourself:

• Never send money, gift cards, or cryptocurrency to someone you have not met in person.
• Conduct reverse image searches of profile photos.
• Consult a trusted friend or family member before sending funds.
• Report suspicious activity immediately.

If you believe you are a victim of a romance scam:

• Stop all communication immediately and do not delete or erase any evidence. Save all correspondence and financial records and contact your bank or financial institution right away.
• Make a report to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov or call your local law enforcement.

Some examples of scams that happened here in Northern Ohio include:

• Ghanaian National Charged with Running Romance Scams That Took Over $8 Million From Elderly Victims
• Ohio Woman Loses Life Savings in Cryptocurrency Investment Scam

The Department of Justice works with domestic and international partners to dismantle these criminal enterprises and is committed to investigating and prosecuting those responsible.

If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of a romance scam, call the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-372-8311 seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Hotline staff are experienced professionals who guide callers through the steps to make a report to assist authorities identify fraudsters. Submitting a report may increase the likelihood of recovering financial losses if done promptly. For more information, visit https://ovc.ojp.gov/program/stop-elder-fraud/providing-help-restoring-hope.