Valentine's Day Romance Scams

Fraud & Security
A heart with the words scam in the middle of it

This Valentine’s Day, let that special person steal your heart – not your money! Romance scams are exactly what they sound like: scammers prey on those of us that are looking for love, a time where most of us are in an emotionally vulnerable position. Here’s a few ways to protect yourself dating online – learn more at the FTC website.

Protect Your Heart, and Your Data!

  • Once they entice you with their kind words and have your trust, romance scammers will ask you to pay for expenses such as medical bills, travel costs, and even investing opportunities. Don’t be fooled, though; you should never send money to strangers online.
  • Whether you’re on a dating app or social media, these scammers will try to find a way to get to you. Make sure that valuable information such as your last name, hometown, job and company, age, and other confidential data isn’t listed on your profile. Scammers can easily use these facts to create fake profiles with your photos and steal others money, too.
  • Make sure the person you’re talking to is legitimate. Consider these questions as you swipe through dating apps:
    • Do they have a blue check mark on their profile to show that they’re a real person? Apps such as Tinder and Hinge will ask users to record a short video of their face so they know you’re not a fake profile.
    • Do you have any mutual friends that you can reach out to and make sure they’re real?
    • Are there any calls to action on their profile? This can be a prompt to message them for link to their “private profile”, “social media”, or “investing website”.

Related Resources

  • Scam Alert graphic of person on a laptop
    Fraud & Security

    Don't Fall Victim to Fraud

    Be wary of scams, especially callers claiming to be someone from HVCU’s Contact Center or  HVCU’s “fraud department” who want you to “confirm” important information.
    Read More
  • Man looking at a text scam on his phone Opens video in a modal
    Fraud & Security

    Don't Get Phished by a Text Message

    Quick tips to help you avoid scammers who target by text message.
    Watch Video
  • Woman on cell phone with concerned expression
    Fraud & Security

    Phone Spoofing Alert

    Scam artists have been “spoofing” phone numbers for some time – hijacking a legitimate number to call people and gain access to your personal information.
    Read More