Romance & catfish scam
In a romance scam, a fraudster builds a fake online relationship — often using stolen or AI-generated photos — to win your trust, then invents an emergency to ask you for money.
“My darling, I'm finally able to fly out to meet you, but customs are holding my bag and I need £900 to release it. You're the only one I can trust. I'll pay you back the moment I land.”
How it works
Scammers create attractive fake profiles on dating apps and social media, sometimes using AI-generated faces that don't exist. They move fast emotionally, profess strong feelings quickly, and steer you off the app to private chat. They always have a reason they can't meet or video call. Eventually a crisis appears — a medical bill, a stuck shipment, a business emergency, or a 'guaranteed' crypto investment — and they ask for money, usually by bank transfer, gift cards, or crypto.
Warning signs
- They fall for you very quickly and talk about a future together early
- They always have an excuse not to video call or meet in person
- Their photos look like a model, or feel too polished — possibly AI-generated
- They move the conversation to WhatsApp or email fast
- They eventually ask for money, gift cards, or crypto — or 'investment' help
- Their story has small inconsistencies that change over time
What to do
- Never send money, gift cards, or crypto to someone you haven't met in person
- Insist on a live video call — scammers will keep making excuses
- Do a reverse-image search on their photos to see if they're stolen or fake
- Talk to a friend or family member — scammers rely on isolating you
- Report the profile to the platform, and to Action Fraud if you've lost money
Frequently asked questions
- How can I check if someone online is real?
- Ask for a live video call (not just photos), reverse-image-search their pictures, and check whether their story holds up. Guardurai's photo check can run a reverse-image search and AI deepfake detection to help tell whether a profile photo is real.
- They asked me to invest in crypto — is that a romance scam?
- Very likely. 'Pig butchering' scams blend romance with fake crypto investing: the relationship is bait, and the 'investment platform' is fake. Never invest money on the advice of someone you met online.