Watch the sequence, not one isolated detail
A scammer may claim to be overseas, sick, injured, detained, handling a package, or offering an investment. The common pattern is distance, urgency, and a request for money.
A real person can travel or have an emergency. Risk rises when you cannot check their identity independently and every path leads back to sending money.
Payment method is a major clue
FTC analysis found that cryptocurrency and bank wires together accounted for more than 60% of reported romance-scam losses in 2022. Gift cards were the most frequently reported payment method among people who lost money.
Requests to move money for someone you have not met should stop the conversation. Do not send funds to unlock an investment, receive a package, pay a customs fee, or prove loyalty.
Verify, preserve, and report
Reverse-search profile images, verify details through independent sources, and tell someone you trust. Preserve messages and transaction records before blocking the account.
Report the profile to the platform and the incident to ReportFraud.ftc.gov. If money moved, contact the bank, wire service, gift-card issuer, or cryptocurrency platform immediately; recovery is not guaranteed, but speed matters.