Marriage and dating fraud
In the United States, online dating scams have evolved into a meticulously orchestrated digital game. According to the latest FBI data, losses from romance scams in 2022 exceeded $1.3 billion, nearly triple the amount from five years ago. Behind these numbers lie countless broken hearts and emptied wallets, reflecting the vulnerability of emotional needs in the digital age.
Online dating scams in the U.S. have formed a complete underground industry. Scammers lurk on mainstream dating platforms such as Tinder and Match.com, using big data to analyze user preferences and tailor-made "perfect partner" personas. They delve into American culture, skillfully employing local slang and life details to create convincing fake identities. From overseas military officers to petroleum engineers, Wall Street elites to Silicon Valley entrepreneurs, these fabricated roles precisely match the dating standards of American singles, demonstrating astonishing deceitfulness. Scam scripts continue to evolve, even including fake video calls and AI voice simulation technology.
The scam process exhibits highly professional characteristics. Criminal groups employ a combination of "emotional cultivation + psychological manipulation": establishing emotional dependency through frequent interactions in the early stages, exploiting intimate relationships to obtain private information in the mid-term, and fabricating emergencies to execute scams in the final phase. The "loneliness scam" that emerged during the pandemic has been particularly rampant, with scammers targeting isolated seniors through months of "emotional investment" to gain trust, ultimately swindling their life savings. The rise of cryptocurrencies has also provided a new channel for scams, with crypto-related romance scams accounting for 35% of cases in 2022, with an average loss of $10,000 per incident.
The U.S. is building a comprehensive prevention system. The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) have jointly launched an "anti-scam campaign," establishing cross-departmental collaboration mechanisms. Major dating platforms have introduced AI recognition systems and user education modules, with Match Group investing $100 million in safety technology research and development. State governments are strengthening legislation, with California leading the way by passing the "Online Dating Platform Safety Act," requiring platforms to implement mandatory identity verification and scam warning systems.
In this era of digital dating, maintaining rationality and vigilance is crucial. American singles are learning to approach online relationships with greater caution: verifying identity information, being wary of rapidly escalating relationships, and refusing financial transactions. Law enforcement agencies recommend adopting the "3R principle": Recognize (identify scams), Reject (refuse requests), and Report (report promptly). Remember, true love takes time to develop, and any relationship that seems too good to be true may hide danger. In this digital jungle full of temptations, only by staying alert can you protect your heart and wallet. If you encounter scams in online dating or need legal consultation, please feel free to contact our law firm. We will provide you with professional legal assistance and support.