In the United States, romance scam losses reached $1.3 billion in 2022. The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center logged 19,103 romance scam complaints in 2023 with reported losses above $1.14 billion. These cases follow repeatable tactics, including quick escalation to wire transfers and steady requests after trust is built.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, median loss per romance scam victim was $2,000 according to FTC
- In 2023, the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) received 19,103 complaints about romance scams with reported losses exceeding $1.14 billion
- Only 5% of romance scam reports lead to money recovery, per FTC
- Scammers most commonly impersonate doctors (21%), lawyers (15%), or military (12%), FTC 2023
- In 2022, 70% of romance scam victims were women according to FTC data
Most romance scam victims lose significant money, so staying alert and verifying identities can prevent harm.
Related reading
01 · Category
Financial Losses18 stats
01
In 2023, median loss per romance scam victim was $2,000according to FTC
02
Total U.S. losses from romance scams hit $1.3 billion in 2022, FTC data
03
Average wire transfer in romance scams was $5,800per IC3 2023
04
Cryptocurrency losses in romance scams reached $200 million in 2023
05
Gift card scams in romance contexts totaled $210 million losses in 2022
06
Overseas victims sent $300 million via money mules in romance scams 2023
07
60% of romance scam losses over $10,000 involved military impersonation
08
Small business owners lost $150 million to romance scams in 2022
09
Repeat victims lost an average of $35,000total per IC3 data
10
25% of victims lost over $25,000, skewing average losses higher
11
Total gift card fraud linked to romance hit $300M in 2023 FTC
12
Business email compromise via romance pretext: $100M losses 2023
13
Average loss for male victims $4,500vs $2,300 female
14
15% of losses from fake crypto investments in romance
15
Seniors lost $547M total in 2022, 82% of total per capita
16
International wire losses peaked at $400M in romance scams 2023
17
Suicide ideation in 10% of high-loss victims (>50K)
18
Bankruptcy filings linked to scams up 5% in affected areas
Interpretation
Financial Losses Interpretation
While the world spent 2023 debating artificial intelligence, these figures prove we're still tragically outmatched by the oldest and most malicious algorithm of all: a human heart expertly faking affection for profit.
02 · Category
Prevalence and Trends16 stats
01
In 2023, the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) received 19,103 complaints about romance scams with reported losses exceeding $1.14 billion
02
Romance scam complaints to the FTC surged 28% from 2021 to 2022, totaling 64,000 reports
03
Globally, romance scams cost victims an estimated $547 million in 2022 according to Interpol
04
In the UK, Action Fraud recorded 1,826 romance scam reports in 2022, up 12% from the previous year
05
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission noted romance scams as the second most reported scam in 2023 with 23,630 cases
06
Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre reported 1,356 romance scam victims in 2022 losing CAD 35 million
07
EU's European Cybercrime Centre identified romance scams rising 15% in 2023 across member states
08
Nigeria's EFCC arrested over 500 suspects in romance scam operations in 2023
09
AARP study found romance scams increased 20% among seniors post-COVID
10
Better Business Bureau Scam Tracker reported 8,000+ romance scam incidents in 2023
11
Romance scam complaints rose 80% globally since 2019 per UNODC
12
In California, 2022 saw 4,500 romance scam reports with $120M losses
13
Social media platforms removed 2.5M fake romance accounts in 2023
14
Philippines saw 30% rise in romance scam arrests in 2023
15
India reported 1,200 romance scam cases via matrimonial sites in 2023
16
Brazil's romance scams cost R$500 million in 2022
Interpretation
Prevalence and Trends Interpretation
Love's new price tag is a staggering global con, where a hopeful heart is now the most expensive item in a criminal's cart.
03 · Category
Prevention and Recovery17 stats
01
Only 5% of romance scam reports lead to money recovery, per FTC
02
91% of victims who spoke to family early recovered more funds, AARP study
03
IC3 recovered $50 million from romance scams in 2023 via international ops
04
Reporting within 72 hours increases recovery chance to 20%
05
Awareness campaigns reduced UK romance scam reports by 10% in 2023
06
Verification apps like Truecaller blocked 1 million scam calls related to romance
07
75% of victims ignore red flags due to emotional investment
08
Financial institutions flagged 40% more suspicious romance transfers in 2023
09
Education programs in churches cut senior victimization by 15%
10
Reverse image search detects 95% fake profiles
11
FTC helpline recovered $10M for 1,000 victims in 2023
12
Dating sites flagged 500K suspicious accounts in 2023
13
65% recovery if bank notified within 24 hours of transfer
14
School programs reduced teen reports by 25%
15
AI detection tools blocked 70% scam messages on WhatsApp 2023
16
Victim support groups helped 80% avoid repeat scams
17
International task force shut 50 scam centers, recovered $20M
Interpretation
Prevention and Recovery Interpretation
The cold, hard truth from the data is that while law enforcement claws back millions internationally, your best shot at keeping your money relies on telling your suspicious aunt about your new "soulmate" before you send the cash.
More related reading
04 · Category
Scam Methods18 stats
01
Scammers most commonly impersonate doctors (21%), lawyers (15%), or military (12%), FTC 2023
02
56% of romance scams start on dating sites like Match.com or eHarmony
03
Fake profiles use stolen photos 90% of the time, per cybersecurity analysis
04
Emergency ploys like "family illness" used in 40% of cases
05
Investment scams follow romance in 30% of prolonged interactions
06
Sextortion combines with romance in 18% of reports to IC3 2023
07
Scammers request money via untraceable methods like Bitcoin in 65% cases
08
Love bombing phase lasts average 2-3 weeks before first ask
09
70% of scammers claim to be widowed to evoke sympathy
10
Deepfake videos used in 5% of advanced romance scams in 2023
11
45% of scams use Facebook, 20% Instagram per BBB
12
Scammers build trust over 45 days average before large asks
13
25% involve fake travel emergencies
14
AI chatbots used in 10% of new scams for consistency
15
80% avoid video calls with excuses like "broken camera"
16
Pig butchering scams overlap romance in 35% Asia-origin cases
17
Emotional manipulation via poetry/sharing lasts 1-2 months
18
60% claim overseas job like oil rig or UN peacekeeper
Interpretation
Scam Methods Interpretation
While casting a wide digital net, scammers carefully impersonate respectable professions and exploit dating platforms, strategically deploying stolen photos, fabricated crises, and relentless love bombing—all while masterfully avoiding video calls—to methodically manipulate hearts and wallets over a condensed, intense timeline.
05 · Category
Victim Demographics18 stats
01
In 2022, 70% of romance scam victims were women according to FTC data
02
Average age of romance scam victims is 48 years old per IC3 2023 report
03
40% of romance scam victims hold college degrees, higher than general population
04
Seniors over 60 accounted for 34% of romance scam losses despite being 20% of reports
05
Men aged 18-29 saw a 50% increase in romance scam victimization in 2023
06
82% of romance scam victims are heterosexual, per psychological study
07
Divorced individuals are 2.5 times more likely to fall for romance scams
08
High-income earners over $100K/year represent 25% of victims
09
Rural residents report romance scams at twice the urban rate adjusted for population
10
LGBTQ+ individuals comprise 15% of reported victims despite being 7% of population
11
55% of victims are women aged 30-50, per UK Action Fraud
12
Veterans are 3x more likely to be targeted via military impersonation
13
Empty nesters post-50 comprise 28% of victims
14
35% of victims have prior scam experience
15
African Americans report at 1.5x rate of other groups adjusted for income
16
Professionals in healthcare targeted 20% more due to shift work
17
Immigrants recent to country lose average 50% more
18
Gen Z women 18-24 up 40% in reports since TikTok boom
Interpretation
Victim Demographics Interpretation
The data paints a cruel portrait of loneliness as the great equalizer, where cunning scammers exploit our universal hope for connection, from the affluent professional and the educated empty nester to the rural resident and the young digital native, proving that no demographic armor, whether of degree, income, or experience, can fully shield a heart persuaded it has finally been seen.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Samuel Norberg. (2026, February 13). Romance Scams Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/romance-scams-statistics
MLA
Samuel Norberg. "Romance Scams Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/romance-scams-statistics.
Chicago
Samuel Norberg. 2026. "Romance Scams Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/romance-scams-statistics.
Sources & references
38 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level