How to spot a romance scam on dating sites

Most people on dating sites are looking for exactly what you are. A small number are not. Romance scammers build trust over days or weeks, then invent a reason you should send money. Knowing their patterns is the best protection.

The most common warning signs

• They ask for money, in any form. Bank transfers, gift cards, crypto, mobile wallets, a flight ticket, a hospital bill, a "customs fee" to release a parcel. A genuine person you have never met will not ask you for money. This is the clearest sign of all.
• They want to move off the site quickly. Moving to a private messaging app straight away takes you away from the reporting and safety tools here.
• They avoid video calls. The camera is "broken", the connection is "bad", or there is always a reason not to show their face live.
• Strong feelings, very fast. Declarations of love within days, talk of marriage before you have met, or pressure to promise yourself to them.
• A story that keeps changing, or one that always ends in an emergency.
• An investment tip. A new kind of scam starts as friendly chat, then turns to a "special" trading app or crypto platform where they say they make easy money. Small early "profits" are shown to make you invest more. Once larger sums go in, the money and the person disappear.
• Photos that look like a model shoot, or a profile with very little real detail.

How to check someone

• Ask for a short video call before you meet. Real people are usually happy to.
• Search their photo with a reverse image search. Stolen photos often appear under other names.
• Look for the verified badge. On AsianLove, members can verify their photos with a selfie that our team checks.
• Take your time. Anyone genuine will understand that you want to get to know them first.

If someone asks you for money

1. Do not send anything, even a small amount "to help". 2. Stop replying, and do not argue; scammers are trained to talk you round. 3. Report the profile. On AsianLove, open their profile or the conversation menu and choose Report. Our team reviews every report. 4. If you have already sent money, contact your bank or payment provider straight away and report it to the police.

How AsianLove helps

Photos are screened when they are uploaded, members can verify their photos, and chats show a warning when a conversation mentions money. Members who are reported by several people are suspended until our team reviews them. None of this replaces your own judgement, so trust your instincts: if something feels wrong, it usually is.

Read more in our safety tips.