Romance Scams

Romance scammers create fake online profiles on dating apps and social media to trick you. They use intense messages and declarations of love to build quick trust. Once they have your trust, they manipulate you into sending money or making fake investments.

"Pig Butchering" and Romance Investment Scams

A major trend in online fraud is "pig butchering." This is a hybrid romance-and-investment scam where fraudsters spend weeks or months building a romantic relationship with you (known as "fattening the pig").

Once they gain your trust, they introduce a bogus crypto or stock trading platform and convince you to invest your savings. Once you deposit your cash, they steal your money and disappear (known as "butchering").

Learn more about how to protect your savings on our DFI Pig Butchering Scams Page.

Common Romance Scam Tactics

• The "I Need Emergency Help" Scam: The scammer claims they are sick, hurt, in jail, or facing a sudden crisis and need money immediately.
• The "Pig Butchering" Investment Scam: They pose as a successful financial expert and offer to help you make quick profits on a fake crypto or stock website.
• The "I Need Travel Funds" Scam: They promise to visit you in person but ask you to send money for plane tickets, visas, or travel fees.
• The "Inheritance or Sugar Daddy" Scam: They claim they come from a wealthy family and will share a large inheritance with you if you pay administrative fees or share your bank account details.
• The Blackmail Scam: Scammers convince you to share intimate photos or messages, then threaten to send them to your friends, family, or boss unless you pay them.
• The Custom Fees Scam: They claim to send you a expensive gift or package but insist you pay customs or delivery fees to receive it.
• The Malware Link Scam: They send links or files that install virus software on your phone or computer to steal your passwords and financial information.

Warning Signs It's A Scam

• They ask for money or account details: They request wire transfers, gift cards, crypto, or banking login credentials.
• Their profile looks fake: They use stock photos, have very few friends or posts, or their profile was created recently.
• They refuse to meet in person: They claim they live far away, work overseas, or serve in the military, and always cancel video calls or face-to-face meetings.
• The relationship moves too fast: They declare deep love within days or weeks and push to move conversation off the dating site onto private messaging apps.
• They isolate you: They encourage you to keep the relationship secret from your family, friends, or financial advisers.

How to Protect Yourself

• Never send money or crypto: Do not send cash, gift cards, or digital assets to anyone you have only communicated with online or by phone.
• Check investment licenses: Verify if an investment professional or trading firm is licensed in Washington using the DFI license lookup tool at dfi.wa.gov.
• Slow down and ask questions: Scammers rely on urgency and emotional pressure. Take your time and talk to a trusted friend or family member about the relationship.
• Keep your personal info private: Avoid sharing intimate photos, identity documents, or financial information online that could be used for blackmail.

What to Do If You Are a Victim

If you suspect you have fallen victim to a romance scam, do not feel embarrassed. Scammers use professional psychological manipulation. Take action immediately:

1. Stop all communication: Block the scammer on social media, dating apps, phone calls, and text messages.
2. Contact your bank or credit union: Report the fraud right away to freeze compromised accounts, stop pending wire transfers, and protect your credit.
3. Save all evidence: Keep unedited screenshots, text logs, email addresses, payment receipts, and profile links.
4. Beware of recovery scams: Ignore anyone who promises to retrieve your lost funds for a fee. Official government agencies never charge fees to investigate.

How to Report Romance Scams in Washington State

If you live in Washington State or lost money to an online scam, file reports with state and federal authorities:

• Washington State DFI: Report investment or crypto related fraud to DFI at dfi.wa.gov/file-complaint or call 1-877-746-4334.
• Washington Attorney General: File a consumer protection complaint at atg.wa.gov or call 1-800-551-4636.
• Local Law Enforcement: File a report with your local police department or county sheriff.
• Federal Trade Commission (FTC): Report imposter fraud and romance scams at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
• FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3): File an online report for internet romance and pig butchering scams at ic3.gov.