15 March 2026
0 Comments Talking to the Partner of Your Dreams…. But are they real?
We now live in a digital age where many people meet online rather than through traditional social settings such as workplaces, bars, clubs or social circles.
Dating apps, social media platforms and online communities have made it easier than ever to connect with new people. Unfortunately, the same technology which helps people form genuine relationships is also exploited by criminals. Romance Scams is a business of epic proportion.
Romance scams have become so widespread they regularly feature in news reports and documentaries. Many victims initially believe they have met the partner of their dreams, only to later discover the person they were communicating with never existed. Some notable examples include:
Romance scams have become so prolific that society has even developed a term for this type of deception: “Catfishing.”
Catfishing is when an individual creates a false online identity in order to deceive another person, typically to form a relationship and build emotional trust. In many cases a Professional Romance Scammer will create one or more profiles which would trigger the interest of a particular type of victim. For example, a profile of a successful entrepreneur who runs a medical instruments business which could appease doctors. Upon gaining the interest of a potential victim, the Romancer Scammer will then look at the potential victims profile and begin to fabricate stories to gain trust and sympathy. For example, if the potential victim is an animal lover, the Romance Scammer will present photos of their pet and later allege their pet requires medical treatment which they cannot afford, predominantly because their funds are tied up in some form of a large investment.
The fake identity may involve:
The objective is usually to develop an emotional relationship with the victim, which is later exploited for financial gain.
Romance scammers invest significant time and effort building trust before requesting money. In many cases victims communicate with the fraudster for weeks, months or even years before any financial request is made.
Romance scams generally follow a predictable pattern:
The fraudster typically approaches victims through:
Dating apps
Facebook, Instagram or other social media platforms
Messaging applications such as WhatsApp or Telegram
Often the profile will appear highly attractive or professionally presented.
The scammer quickly builds emotional intimacy by:
Communicating frequently throughout the day
Sharing fabricated personal stories
Expressing strong feelings very early in the relationship
This tactic is designed to create emotional dependency.
Despite developing a relationship, the fraudster will always find reasons why they cannot meet in person.
Common excuses include:
Working overseas (military personnel, oil rig workers, engineers)
Medical emergencies
Travel restrictions
Security concerns
Once trust has been established, the scammer introduces a financial problem or an amazing investment opportunity. Typical requests include:
Emergency medical expenses
Travel funds to visit the victim
Investment opportunities in gold, crypto, inheritance etc
Cryptocurrency transfers
Gift cards or bank transfers
Victims are often persuaded to create a new bank account (normally a digital challenger bank) where there isn’t a historic pattern of spending, to avoid banks automatically triggering fraud alerts.
Victims are requested to send small payments over time, which sometimes amount to tens or hundreds of thousands of pounds.
Every case differs, there are several common warning signs:
Another frequent indicator is that the profile photographs appear too professional or can be traced back to other individuals online.
Romance scams are particularly harmful because they exploit human emotions rather than technical vulnerabilities.
Victims are not simply targeted financially, they are manipulated emotionally. Fraudsters deliberately build relationships which appear genuine and supportive, which makes it extremely difficult for victims to recognise the deception. By the time financial requests are made, many victims feel they are helping someone they care about.
Pig Butchering is applied by fraudsters in a range of different scams. For example, Pig Butchering is frequently observed in Investment Scams, Service & Trade Scams and Romance Scams.
Pig Butchering is the process of draining money from the victim until they have literally no money, no assets and no credit left. The Fraudster has literally bled the victim dry of all their wealth.
There have been many cases where victims have been left feeling suicidal since they have lost everything and fear telling their friends and families they have been defrauded.
Romance scams are not purely technical crimes, they are psychological manipulations. Fraudsters exploit powerful human emotions such as:
Victims often feel they have found someone who genuinely cares about them. Once this emotional connection has formed, victims may ignore warning signs that would otherwise appear obvious. Fraudsters frequently use techniques such as:
These tactics can make the victim psychologically dependent on the fraudster, hence Fraudsters target widowers, target certain cultures and religions.
Many people assume romance scammers operate alone. In reality, many scams are run by organised criminal networks operating internationally. These networks may involve:
Some operations run like call centres, with fraudsters working shifts communicating with victims across multiple countries.
Are you unsure of the credibility of the person you are talking to Online? Do you think you are a victim of an Investment Scam or a Romance Scam. If so please immediately reach out to FFIATS, our team of professional investigators can help you now.
In today’s digital economy, fraud is more sophisticated, organised and persuasive than ever. From romance scams and investment scams to…
