Valentine’s Day may be a season for romance, but Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall says it’s also a prime time for online scammers.
Marshall is urging residents to use extreme caution on online dating platforms, warning that scammers often pose as potential partners to build trust before asking for money or sensitive personal information.
According to the Attorney General’s office, romance scammers typically create fake identities and cultivate emotional relationships with victims as part of a scheme to extract money.
“Behind the screen is often not a soulmate, but a scammer,” Marshall said.
“These predators play the long game, building emotional trust only to drain bank accounts and vanish without a trace. By the time victims realize the truth, the money is usually unrecoverable. If something feels wrong, trust your instincts and call our office right away. Acting quickly can make all the difference.”
A romance scam occurs when someone pretends to be a romantic partner online using a false identity to gain a victim’s confidence. After establishing trust, scammers often request money or personal data, frequently tied to fabricated emergencies or urgent travel needs. Examples cited by the office include fake medical crises, last-minute travel expenses, or other urgent scenarios designed to pressure victims into sending funds quickly.
Officials say many victims never report the crime due to embarrassment, which allows scammers to continue targeting others.
Tips to avoid romance scams include:
- Never send money to someone you only know online or by phone
- Do not share passwords or bank account information
- Celebrities will not ask for money to pursue a relationship
- Run reverse image searches on profile photos to check for reuse
Suspected scams can be reported to the Alabama Attorney General’s Office at 1-800-392-5658 or through AlabamaAG.gov.
Residents can also file complaints with the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov or the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov.
Sherri Blevins is a reporter for 256 Today.
