Romance scams are among the most devastating frauds because they don’t just steal your money, they exploit your trust and break your heart at the same time. Scammers prey on trust, loneliness, and human connection, so what begins as an innocent online conversation can quickly become an elaborate scheme designed to separate victims from their life savings.
Scammers are patient and sophisticated. They spend weeks or even months building what appears to be a genuine romantic relationship before asking for money or introducing what they promise is a life-changing financial opportunity.
In San Diego County, we’re seeing romance scammers use a particularly dangerous tactic. Victims believe they have met a legitimate romantic interest online who claims to be a successful investor in foreign currency markets, cryptocurrency, or other speculative investments. The scammer offers to teach the victim how to make easy money, presenting themselves as both a romantic partner and a trusted financial mentor.
In one investigation, a victim believed he was in an online romantic relationship with a woman living in Japan. She convinced him to begin investing in foreign currency markets and provided him with what appeared to be an investment dashboard showing extraordinary returns. After receiving about $1,000 in profits on an initial $5,000 investment, he became convinced the opportunity was legitimate and invested hundreds of thousands of dollars with his online girlfriend’s guidance. When he later attempted to withdraw some of his funds, he discovered the investment platform was nothing more than a sophisticated sham and his money was gone.
This type of fraud is becoming increasingly common and costly. According to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, California reported 2,593 victims of confidence and romance scams in 2025, with losses totaling more than $158.9 million. That’s a significant increase from 2024, when 2,363 victims reported losses exceeding $112.4 million.
There are warning signs everyone should know. Be suspicious if someone you’ve met online:
• Quickly expresses strong romantic feelings or pushes the relationship to move fast.
• Refuses to meet in person or repeatedly offers excuses for why they can’t video chat.
• Claims to be highly successful financially and offers investment advice or promises unusually high returns.
• Encourages you to invest in cryptocurrency, foreign currency markets, or other speculative investments through unfamiliar platforms.
• Asks you to keep your relationship or investments a secret.
• Pressures you to act quickly before an “opportunity” disappears.
Remember this simple rule: legitimate investments do not guarantee extraordinary returns, and legitimate romantic partners don’t ask you to transfer money or invest through websites you’ve never heard of.
Before sending money or making an investment, talk to someone you trust. Scammers deliberately isolate their victims and discourage outside opinions because they know a fresh perspective can expose their deception.
If you suspect an online relationship is a scam, stop all contact immediately. Never send additional money in an attempt to recover previous losses. Preserve all communications and financial records related to the scam.
If you are the victim of a romance scam, file a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at IC3.gov.
Protecting yourself begins with healthy skepticism.
The San Diego County District Attorney’s Office is committed to keeping our communities informed and protected as criminals evolve their tactics. By staying alert and spreading awareness, we can stop scams and keep families safe. To learn more about our Consumer Protection Unit, visit our consumer protection page at www.sandiegoda.com.