Romance scams don’t just happen to lonely, naive people — they happen to sharp, successful, well-educated adults every single day. And in Florida, where more than 5 million residents are over the age of 65, they happen with alarming frequency.

The numbers have grown dramatically since this post was first written. In 2021, the Federal Trade Commission reported $547 million in romance scam losses nationally. By 2023, that figure had more than doubled to $1.14 billion. And in 2024, romance scam losses topped $823 million in FTC reports alone — a figure experts widely believe represents a fraction of what is actually lost, since most victims never report.

Florida is a Top-3 State for Internet Crime Losses

• Florida seniors lost $388 million to internet fraud in 2024 — among the highest of any state
• Nationally, romance scams cost victims over $823 million in 2024
• The median loss per romance scam victim is approximately $2,000 — the highest of any imposter scam type

Source: FBI IC3 Annual Report 2024; FTC Consumer Sentinel Data Book 2024

Florida’s large, concentrated senior population makes it a prime target. Scammers specifically seek out older adults because they are more likely to have retirement savings, own their homes, and — critically — spend more time alone. What follows is a plain-language guide to what a romance scam looks like, how to spot one, and what to do if someone you love may be a victim.

What Is a Romance Scam?

According to the FBI, a romance scam occurs when a criminal adopts a fake online identity to gain a victim’s affection and trust, then uses that trust to steal money, gifts, or personal information. These criminals are skilled manipulators. They come across as genuine, caring, and devoted — because they have studied their target carefully, often using personal information the victim has posted publicly online.

The criminal will work quickly to create a powerful emotional bond with the victim, a technique known as “love bombing” — an overwhelming flood of attention, affection, and declarations of love designed to make the victim feel uniquely chosen and cherished. Once that bond is formed, the requests for money begin.

A New and Dangerous Variation: “Pig Butchering” Scams

Since the original version of this post was written, a particularly devastating variation of the romance scam has exploded in Florida and nationally. Known as “pig butchering” — a term derived from the idea of fattening a pig before slaughter — these schemes combine romantic manipulation with fake cryptocurrency investment opportunities.

The scammer builds a relationship over weeks or months, then introduces the victim to a fraudulent investment platform. The victim sees apparent early gains and invests more. When they try to withdraw funds, they discover the platform is fake and their money is gone. In 2024, the FBI reported that crypto-enabled investment fraud — of which pig butchering is the leading type — resulted in $5.8 billion in losses nationally. Many of these schemes originate from organized crime operations overseas, and victims in Florida have lost hundreds of thousands of dollars in individual cases.

Spot the Red Flags

Romance scammers follow predictable patterns. The more of these red flags present in a relationship, the more urgently the situation should be evaluated.

• Red Flag #1 — They Are Never Physically Available
  The criminal will claim to be from another state or country, on a military deployment, working offshore on an oil rig, or traveling internationally for business. This is always the reason they cannot meet in person. When the victim tries to visit or arrange a meeting, an emergency, illness, or logistical crisis materializes every time. To those outside the relationship, these excuses are obviously inconsistent — but to someone who has been love-bombed, they feel plausible.
• Red Flag #2 — They Have Almost No Verifiable Online Presence
  Most people leave a real footprint online. A Google search of their name, employer, or photo will turn up something. Romance scammers either have almost no presence at all, or they have blocked the victim and their contacts from finding their real identity. Take the photo they have shared and run a reverse image search — if it appears connected to a different name or turns up on stock photo sites, that is a significant warning sign.
• Red Flag #3 — The Relationship Moves Unusually Fast
  Declarations of love, talk of marriage, and plans for a future together arrive far too quickly. This is intentional. The criminal is trying to establish emotional commitment before the victim has had time to think critically. If someone you have never met in person is already discussing moving in together or making long-term plans, pause and evaluate.
• Red Flag #4 — They Ask for Money or Guide You Toward “Investments”
  This is the core of every romance scam, and it takes different forms. The traditional version involves direct requests — money for a plane ticket to come visit, a medical emergency, business losses, or a loan to get out of a difficult situation. The newer pig butchering variation introduces a “sure thing” investment opportunity, often in cryptocurrency, and coaches the victim through a fake platform that appears to show real gains. Whether it is a direct transfer or a fake investment, any request to move money to someone you have only met online is a serious warning sign.
• Red Flag #5 — They Try to Isolate You
  A scammer who senses that family members or friends are skeptical will often try to drive a wedge between the victim and those people. They may frame concerned loved ones as jealous, controlling, or trying to steal from the victim. This isolation is intentional — it removes the safeguards most likely to catch what is happening.

Why Florida Seniors Are Especially Vulnerable

Scammers deliberately target older adults, and Florida’s demographics make it one of the most heavily targeted states in the country. Several factors increase the risk:

• Retirement savings and home equity give scammers a larger financial target.
• Widowhood and social isolation — common in the senior population — make the emotional appeal of a devoted new companion especially powerful.
• Many older adults are less familiar with how easily digital identities can be fabricated, including AI-generated photos and voices now used by some scammers.
• Shame and embarrassment cause many victims to stay silent even after they realize what has happened, giving the scammer more time and access.

The FTC’s most recent report to Congress found that older adults are significantly more likely than younger people to report losing money to romance scams — and that their median losses are higher. Florida ranked among the top three states nationally for total internet fraud losses in 2024, with seniors losing $388 million to all forms of internet crime.

How to Protect Yourself

Whether you are navigating online dating yourself or concerned about someone you love, these steps can reduce risk significantly.

• Keep social media profiles private, and be cautious about the personal details you share publicly. Scammers use this information to craft a persona designed specifically to appeal to you.
• Use only the chat features within dating platforms — do not move to personal email, phone, or messaging apps quickly. Scammers want to move off monitored platforms.
• Search the name, phone number, email, and any photos of someone you meet online before becoming emotionally invested. A reverse image search of their profile photo is simple and often revealing.
• Tell a trusted friend or family member that you are talking to someone online. People with honest intentions have no problem with this. Scammers will try to discourage it.
• Never send money — or make any “investment” — to someone you have not met in person, regardless of how long you have been communicating or how genuine they seem.
• If a new online acquaintance introduces any kind of financial opportunity, contact a trusted family member or attorney before taking any action.

If Someone You Love May Be a Victim

Approach the situation carefully. A person who has been love-bombed has formed a genuine emotional attachment to the scammer. They are likely to defend the person and feel humiliated by the suggestion that the relationship is not real. Lay out the observable facts calmly and without judgment. Ask questions rather than making accusations.

If money has already been transferred, act immediately. Contact the financial institution to report the transfer and ask whether it can be frozen or reversed. Then consult an elder law attorney. Florida law provides civil remedies for financial exploitation, and in some cases — particularly where a caregiver or trusted person facilitated the fraud — there may be criminal exposure as well.

If You Become a Victim

Stop all communication with the scammer immediately. Do not send additional money, even if they threaten consequences. Then take these steps:

• Contact your bank or financial institution right away to report any transfers and request a freeze if possible.
• File a complaint with the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
• File a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov.
• Report to your local law enforcement.
• Keep all records — screenshots of conversations, account numbers, email addresses, phone numbers, and any photos or identifying information the scammer shared.
• Contact an elder law attorney if significant assets were transferred or if someone assisted the scammer in accessing your accounts.

You are not alone, and you did nothing wrong. These criminals are professionals. Reporting is one of the most important things you can do — it helps law enforcement identify patterns and protect others from the same scheme.

About This Post
Statistics sourced from: FTC Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book 2024; FTC Protecting Older Consumers 2024–2025 Report to Congress (released December 2025); FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) 2024 Annual Report (released April 2025); FBI Miami Field Office Elder Fraud data. Florida figures reflect FBI IC3 2024 state-level elder fraud data.