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Key Points
  • Last year, Australians lost more than $23 million to romance scams, with fraudsters employing advanced methods to hoodwink their targets.
  • Vulnerable groups like older adults, widowers, divorcees, migrants, and Indigenous populations are often targeted, but anyone using online dating can be susceptible.
  • Scammers quickly gain victims’ trust through emotional manipulation, eventually asking for money or sensitive information.
  • Being aware of warning signs such as reluctance to meet in person, maintaining secrecy, and financial requests can help protect both you and others.
It might seem like you would never be tricked by a romance scam, but with scammers’ tactics becoming more advanced, romantics online can easily be misled.
Though they often focus on those perceived as vulnerable – including older adults, widows, divorcees, migrants, Indigenous people, and disabled individuals – anyone can be a target.
“Scammers typically look for individuals who are lonely, financially secure, or lack experience with online dating. However, this doesn’t exclude younger individuals, as scammers adapt their strategies according to the victim’s background and online habits,” states , an associate professor and socio-tech expert at Central Queensland University.

Businessman holding white mask in his hand dishonest cheating agreement.Faking and betray business partnership concept

Identifying red flags such as avoiding face-to-face meetings, maintaining secrecy, and asking for money can safeguard you and your family from harm. Source: iStockphoto / SPmemory/Getty Images/iStockphoto

How do romance scams operate?
A romance scam involves fraudsters creating fake online identities to deceive victims into fake relationships. Their goal is to exploit their victims’ trust to steal money or personal information.
Kylee Dennis is a former police officer and owner of , a service specialising in unmasking romance scammers. She explains how scammers target their victims.
“You go online, you find what you would classify as being your perfect mate, and that relationship develops very quickly. They ask you to come off the dating apps, you go onto a messaging platform, and intimate conversations start. The scammers find your core values, what you like and dislike. That relationship starts very quickly, and then as it continues, they start asking for financial assistance due to an emergency.”
While some of these relationships escalate quickly, many scammers play a long game.
“Often the scammer will invest quite a lot of time in establishing what seems like a real emotional connection before they then turn to executing the scam so it can feel very real,” Catriona Lowe says, who’s the deputy chair of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), which runs the .

romance fraud

Love bombing: is when the scammer professes love early on and floods you with messages and calls. Source: iStockphoto / Frank Brennan/Getty Images

Romance scams: The red flags
If you’re online dating, be cautious of .
-Love bombing: the scammer professes love early on and floods you with messages and calls.

-Quitting platforms quickly: they rapidly move discussions from dating services and social media to encrypted messaging apps like WhatsApp, complicating efforts to trace them.

  • Secrecy: They discourage you from discussing the relationship with loved ones, claiming they wouldn’t understand.
  • Avoiding in-person meetings: They frequently make excuses for not meeting face-to-face, often citing overseas work or family emergencies.
  • Requests for money: They ask for financial help due to urgent medical bills, travel expenses, or

How to protect yourself from scams

  • Never share personal information, passwords, or financial details with someone you meet online.
  • Avoid sending intimate photos or videos, as scammers may use them for blackmail.
  • Never transfer money to someone you’ve only met online or participate in they suggest.
  • Be aware that scammers now use AI-generated images and videos, making video calls insufficient for verification.
AE_romance scam_Ritesh Chugh 2.jpg

Dr Ritesh Chugh, associate professor and socio-tech expert from Central Queensland University.

What to do if you’re a victim of a romance scam

If you suspect you’ve been scammed:

  • Contact your bank immediately to stop further transactions and secure your accounts.
  • Change your online passwords to prevent further breaches.
  • Contact for support.
  • Report the scam to (National Anti-Scam Centre).

“We know that scammers are highly skilled manipulators who prey on trust and emotions. Feeling shame or embarrassment is natural, but reporting the scam can help prevent others from falling into the same trap. There’s no doubt that victims deserve support. Talk to someone you trust, reach out to family and friends or professional counselling services. And please, report. By reporting the scam, you take back control and contribute to the fight against these crimes,” Dr Ritesh Chugh says.

If you’ve been the victim of a romance scam, please know that you’re not alone. It happens to millions of people in Australia and globally. And it is not your fault. Stop engaging with them, block them and report them.

Dr Ritesh Chugh

caution sign data unlocking hackers

Romance scams cost Australians over $23 million last year, with scammers using increasingly sophisticated tactics to deceive victims. Source: Moment RF / sarayut Thaneerat/Getty Images

How to help a romance scam victim

If you suspect , be patient, kind, and sensitive, but firm. Keep in mind that they’re the victim of a crime and need your help.
“Encourage them to cut all contact with the scammer, and assist in reporting the incident. Help them secure their finances and online accounts while also offering emotional support. Patience is key here because victims will struggle with denial or grief,” Dr Ritesh Chugh says.
If you can’t get through, enlist the help of other friends or family members.
Kylee Dennis founded Two Face Investigations after helping her mum escape a romance scam. By conducting a reverse image search on the scammer’s photos, she uncovered that they actually belonged to someone else.
“My mum did it for six months and I’d talk to her a couple of times a week, and at no time did she ever tell me she was dating online because the scammers had manipulated her to tell her I wouldn’t understand,” she says. “It’s ok to be online dating! Go online, find your perfect match…just don’t give them any money.”
To learn more or report a scam, visit .
Subscribe to or follow the Australia Explained podcast for more valuable information and tips about settling into your new life in Australia.   

Do you have any questions or topic ideas? Send us an email to australiaexplained@sbs.com.au.

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