U.S. prosecutors are warning that Valentine’s Day may be peak season not just for flowers and dating apps, but for romance scams increasingly tied to crypto fraud and organized crime networks.
Ohio prosecutors warn that red flags include requests to migrate conversations off dating platforms to WhatsApp or Telegram, early declarations of love, persistent refusal to meet in person, and payment requests via crypto, gift cards, or wire transfer.
"Unlike traditional scams, which execute quickly, these schemes exploit both emotional and financial vulnerabilities," he said.
"Scammers spend weeks or even months building your trust before introducing seemingly lucrative investment opportunities, casually mentioning their success, and offering to teach you. Remember, no random stranger has a genuine interest in helping you make money,” he added.
Faluvegi said scammers often begin with cold outreach and build a close personal rapport over time before steering targets toward bogus crypto investments on fake platforms that show inflated returns and demand larger deposits, only to later block withdrawals with made-up charges or technical issues, then disappear.
“A common tactic is to let you withdraw small initial 'profits' to encourage you to invest larger sums. And when you attempt to withdraw bigger amounts, they suddenly create obstacles like taxes, fees, or system errors, blocking access to your funds,” he said.
“Always research any trading platform thoroughly before investing. Check for licensing, regulation, and independent reviews, and never solely rely on what the platform or its ‘users’ claim,” Faluvegi warned.
