Is your online love interest real or not? These statistics will help you know. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Federal Trade Commission<\/a> said there were $1.3 billion in losses from romance scams in the last 5 years. There was an 80% increase from 2021 to 2020. <\/p>\n\n\n\n These numbers only mean that online dating scams are working<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A romance or online dating scam is a scheme where scammers convince a victim into a romantic relationship. Once a person is committed to them, these cybercriminals<\/a> will typically ask you to send them money or gifts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Continue reading to learn more about online dating scam statistics you should know today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In 2022, the FBI received almost 20,000 reports on romance scams<\/a>. Online romance scammers often use fake identities. In today\u2019s digital era, creating or stealing identities<\/a> to lure potential targets is easier. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Victims of online dating scams can experience financial and psychological distress, which can be alarming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Below are a few pieces of data to show the shocking reality of online romance scams. Read on. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 1 in 10 Americans use dating apps<\/a>. Since scammers are known to use everything for their benefit (even love or romance<\/em>), they usually flock to dating apps. They create fake dating profiles, get the victim\u2019s trust, and ask to send them money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n FTC said each online romance scam victim’s median loss amounted to $2,400<\/a> in 2021. This amount is beyond the American minimum monthly wage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This data exhibits the impact of online dating scams on victims financially. To know more about other statistics, here is an overview:<\/p>\n\n\n\n (ESET Digital Security)<\/p>\n\n\n\n More than half of the respondents of the 2020 ESET study became victims of romance scammers during Valentine\u2019s Day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The loneliness during the holiday significantly impacts many people. Dating app users can be anxious to find someone to be with during the occasion. Scammers will take advantage of this opportunity to entice the victim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n (FTC)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Along with phishing and investment scams, online dating scam is one of the largest scam types in the US. In 2019, this scam type garnered $201 million worth of losses.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n This number increased to almost 50% in 2022 when the reports saw a $304 million loss. <\/p>\n\n\n\n (UK Finance)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Catfishing <\/em>is when your potential love interest online uses a fake persona. According to a UK Finance study, 27% of their respondents experienced being catfished. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Every dating app user can be a victim of romance scammers. However, there are particular age groups, gender, and race that are more prone to this threat. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This part will let you know the demographics of the victims of online dating scams: <\/p>\n\n\n\n (Scamwatch)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Scamwatch looked into thousands of romance scam reports from many dating app users worldwide in 2022. The majority of the reports were from people over 65 years old. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Lack of technical knowledge can be a factor in why the number of victims in this age group continues to increase yearly. The complete summary is in the table below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n (Scamwatch)<\/p>\n\n\n\n No gender is safe from online dating scammers. However, women filed more romance scam reports, with 50.3% or 120,415. On the other hand, men only have 47.2% or 112,974. The remaining percentage came from Gender X. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In terms of the total amount lost, men have a higher amount. They lost 47.9% or $272,101,329. Meanwhile, the female gender has only 40.7% or $231,504,833. <\/p>\n\n\n\n (ActionFraud)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Romance scammers are all over the world. Women in Australia and the United Kingdom are likelier to fall into online dating scammers. The statistics are as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The numbers show how women in these two countries are more inclined to trust romance scammers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Scammers cope with digital changes, too. They study new dating apps or trending topics to know what matters people are interested in and how the platforms work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This part will show you some romance scam trends that will save you from breaking your heart with your fake romantic partner on online dating. <\/p>\n\n\n\n (FTC, Norton)<\/p>\n\n\n\n If a scammer senses that you trust them, this will be the time they will ask you to send them money. In 2022, cryptocurrency reported the most significant dollar loss on romance scams, with 34%. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Other rates from different payment methods are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n (FTC)<\/p>\n\n\n\n The platform with the most online dating scam victims is social media, with 40%. At the same time, 19% lost their money through a website or an application. <\/p>\n\n\n\n These social media platforms include Snapchat<\/a>, Google Chat, and WhatsApp<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n (FTC)<\/p>\n\n\n\n FTC identified the most common lies that romance scammers say. The top-most favorite lie is \u2018\u201cMy family member is (or I am) sick, hurt, or in jail<\/em>.\u201d Other common lies detected are:<\/p>\n\n\n\nEditor\u2019s Choice<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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How Many People Are Victims Of Online Dating Scams Per Year?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Overview Of Online Dating Scam Statistics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Statistics On Online Dating Scam Demographics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Age Group<\/strong><\/td> Number of Reports<\/strong><\/td> Losses<\/strong><\/td><\/tr> Over 65 years old <\/td> 49,154<\/td> $120,733,941<\/td><\/tr> 55 to 64 years old<\/td> 32,365<\/td> $99,580,899<\/td><\/tr> 45 to 54 years old <\/td> 32,639 <\/td> $88,372,465<\/td><\/tr> 35 to 44 years old<\/td> 32,735<\/td> $91,240,378<\/td><\/tr> 25 to 34 years old <\/td> 27,285<\/td> $57,528,930<\/td><\/tr> 18 to 24 years old<\/td> 10,507<\/td> $15,994,305<\/td><\/tr> 18 years old and below<\/td> 1,550<\/td> $361,976<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n \n
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Australia<\/strong><\/td><\/tr> Women<\/td> Men<\/td> Gender X<\/td><\/tr> 54.9%<\/td> 43.3%<\/td> 1.8%<\/td><\/tr> United Kingdom<\/strong><\/td><\/tr> 50%<\/td> 39%<\/td> 11%<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Online Dating Scam Trends <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Final Thoughts<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n