How to spot a romance or job scam
Spot a romance or job scam by its pattern: someone you have never met in person moves fast, avoids video calls, and then needs money, gift cards, cryptocurrency or an investment from you; or a job offer arrives after a text-only interview and asks you to pay for equipment or deposit a check. Stop, do not send anything, and talk to someone you trust.
Why it matters: Romance and job scams are among the fastest-growing fraud losses.
Steps
- Ask for a live video call early; a scammer will keep finding reasons not to.
- Search the person's photos with a reverse image search.
- Never send money, gift cards, cryptocurrency or account details to someone you have not met in person.
- Treat any investment tip from a new online friend as a scam.
- For job offers, check the company's official site and call its public number to confirm the role.
- Never deposit a check for a new employer and send part of it back or buy equipment with it.
- Tell a trusted friend what is happening; saying it out loud often makes the pattern clear.
- Report the profile or posting to the platform.
Stop and call a professional if
- you have already sent money or account details: call your bank immediately, then report to the federal fraud reporting site and your local police
- you shared a password or code: change it and turn on two-factor sign-in now
Common mistakes
- Believing a long, warm relationship means it cannot be a scam.
- Paying a small fee to unlock a job or a bigger payment.
- Keeping the relationship secret because they asked you to.
Teach this to someone
A one page sheet for showing a friend, a teenager or a parent: what to say, what to show, and one question to check it landed.
Teach: How to spot a romance or job scam
What to say
Spot a romance or job scam by its pattern: someone you have never met in person moves fast, avoids video calls, and then needs money, gift cards, cryptocurrency or an investment from you; or a job offer arrives after a text-only interview and asks you to pay for equipment or deposit a check. Stop, do not send anything, and talk to someone you trust.
What to show
- Ask for a live video call early; a scammer will keep finding reasons not to.
- Search the person's photos with a reverse image search.
- Never send money, gift cards, cryptocurrency or account details to someone you have not met in person.
- Treat any investment tip from a new online friend as a scam.
- For job offers, check the company's official site and call its public number to confirm the role.
- Never deposit a check for a new employer and send part of it back or buy equipment with it.
- Tell a trusted friend what is happening; saying it out loud often makes the pattern clear.
- Report the profile or posting to the platform.
Where it stops
Stop and call a professional if you have already sent money or account details: call your bank immediately, then report to the federal fraud reporting site and your local police.
Check question
A new online partner keeps avoiding video calls and then asks for help with a bill. What is this?
Answer: A classic scam pattern. Avoiding video and then needing money is the core romance scam pattern.
Your checklist
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Quick quiz
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Related skills
Sources
- US federal consumer fraud guidance on romance and job scams, 2026. Reviewed September 28, 2026.
Written in our own words from the sources above. It is general information, not advice for your situation; where a professional, your doctor or your lease says something different, follow them.
Last reviewed . First published .