In February, we wrote about how romance scams have changed: AI-written messages, generated photos, and relationships built patiently over weeks or months before money ever becomes part of the conversation.
The FBI has now released its full-year numbers for 2025, and they confirm what we were seeing. Romance and relationship scams grew sharply, and older adults bore most of the cost.
What the new numbers show
According to the FBI's 2025 Internet Crime Report, Americans reported losing $929 million to romance and relationship scams in 2025, up 38% from $672 million in 2024.
And these are only the cases people reported.
Why older adults are hit hardest
Romance scams can affect anyone, but for older adults, the financial consequences are often much greater. In 2025, people 60 and older accounted for 44% of romance scam complaints and 63% of reported losses. The average loss among older victims was about $57,000, compared with roughly $40,000 across all other age groups.
It’s not because older adults are less savvy. It’s because they often have more for scammers to target: decades of savings, retirement accounts, home equity, and established credit. Many are also widowed, divorced, or living alone, and they're often looking for real companionship. Scammers may spend weeks or even months creating what feels like a genuine relationship before ever asking for money.
The result is a scam that runs longer and costs more. It may start with one seemingly reasonable request, an emergency, a travel expense, a temporary loan, and grow into another, and then another. By the time something feels wrong, the financial and emotional stakes can already be significant.
The pattern to watch: romance that turns into "investing"
The five stages we described in February still hold: a friendly introduction, a fast emotional connection, constant contact, quiet isolation, and finally a request for money.
What's increasingly common is how the money request shows up. As the FTC put it this spring, "Romance scammers play the long game. They build a relationship over time, then one day, the conversation turns to money." Often, that turn is to an investment.
Instead of asking for help with an emergency, the new partner offers to help you: a crypto platform they've had success with, a trading app, a "sure thing" they want to share. The first small deposit may even show a gain. That's the hook. Larger deposits follow, and withdrawals suddenly come with fees, delays, or excuses.
Because the victim is the one sending the money, these transfers often look normal to a bank's fraud systems.
If you think someone you love is involved
Romance scams thrive on secrecy, so the people closest to a victim are often the first line of defense. If a parent or friend has a new online relationship, these signs are worth a gentle conversation:
- They've never met in person or on a live video call, and there's always a reason why.
- They're secretive about the relationship or defensive when asked about it.
- They mention a new investment, crypto account, or trading app their partner recommended.
- You notice unusual withdrawals, wire transfers, or gift card purchases.
Lead with curiosity, not judgment. Saying "you're being scammed" often pushes people closer to the scammer. Try "Can you show me how that app works?" or "Would you be open to a video call with them so I can say hi?"
If money has already been sent, contact the bank right away and report it to the FBI's IC3 and the FTC. Reporting quickly gives the best chance of stopping further transfers.
