Romance & Relationship Scams
Fake Tinder or Instagram relationships used to steal money or info.
Overview
Romance scams are among the most emotionally and financially devastating. Criminals create fake profiles on dating apps and social media, building what feels like a genuine romantic connection over weeks or months. Once trust is established, they invent emergencies requiring money. Victims often lose their life savings and suffer severe emotional trauma. A newer variant – the "Hi Mum/Dad" scam – targets parents by impersonating their children.
Common Approaches
How scammers typically operate in this category:
- •Creating attractive fake profiles on Tinder, Bumble, Hinge, and Facebook Dating
- •Building emotional connection through months of daily messaging
- •Using stolen photos and pre-recorded video calls
- •Inventing emergencies: medical bills, travel problems, business issues
- •"Hi Mum/Dad" texts claiming to be your child from a new number
- •AI-generated voice notes to sound like loved ones
Scams in this Category (2)
How to Protect Yourself
- Never send money to someone you haven't met in person – no matter the emergency
- Reverse image search their profile photos to check if they're stolen
- Be suspicious if they can never video call live or meet in person
- Watch for stories that keep escalating with more emergencies
- Tell friends about online relationships – outside perspective helps
- Establish a family code word to verify emergency requests
- If a "family member" messages from a new number, call their known number to verify
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if someone I met online is a scammer?
Red flags include: refusing to video call live, stories about working abroad, quickly declaring love, asking for money for emergencies, and making excuses why they can't meet. Trust your instincts and tell a friend about the relationship.
I sent money to someone I met online. Can I get it back?
Contact your bank immediately as there may be a small window to recall transfers. Report to An Garda Síochána. Unfortunately, money sent via bank transfer or cryptocurrency is very difficult to recover. Don't send more money to "recover" what was lost.
What is the "Hi Mum/Dad" scam?
Scammers send WhatsApp messages pretending to be your child, claiming they have a new phone and need money urgently. Always verify by calling your child's known number. Increasingly, scammers use AI-generated voice notes to sound more convincing.