The Weekly Breach Breakdown Podcast: Romance Scams – How to Protect Yourself - S7E5

Show Transcript

Welcome to the Identity Theft Resource Center's (ITRC) Weekly Breach Breakdown for February 20, 2026. I’m Tim Walden, Communications Leader for the ITRC. Thanks to Sentilink for supporting the ITRC and this podcast. Each week, we look at the most recent events and trends related to data security and privacy.  

Valentine’s Day may have come and gone, but for some, Cupid’s arrow was carrying more malware than magic. This week, we’re talking about romance and relationship scams, the kind that start with sweet messages and end with broken hearts and empty bank accounts. 

A romance scam happens when someone tricks another person into a fake emotional relationship to steal money or personal information. These scams can happen to anyone across all ages, backgrounds and identities. 

Scammers often build a deep emotional connection first, making the victim feel special, seen and understood. Once trust is established, they start asking for money. This is usually framed as an emergency, an investment or even a request to “help” transfer funds. 

According to the Federal Trade Commission, reported losses among adults aged 60 and older rose from $600 million in 2020 to $2.4 billion in 2024, largely driven by romance and relationship scams. 

There are a few familiar storylines identity criminals use: 

• The emergency: They need money for a sudden crisis such as a family medical bill, travel costs or a stranded situation overseas. 
• The hero abroad: They pose as a member of the military or a government employee stuck overseas who needs funds to “get home.” 
• The “job” or transfer request: They ask you to receive and forward money, making you unknowingly part of a money mule scheme. 
• The crypto “investment”: They gain your trust, then convince you to invest in what looks like a promising crypto opportunity, one that doesn’t actually exist. 

Once the victim sends money, scammers often disappear or string them along with new reasons to send more. 

At the ITRC, we’ve seen romance scams evolve into what we now call relationship scams, which are longer, more manipulative schemes that focus on trust and emotional dependency over time. 

The good news? Reports of romance and relationship scams to the ITRC dropped by 32 percent in 2025 compared to 2024. However, the bad news is that identity criminals are getting smarter, and the technology behind the scams is, too. 

As artificial intelligence makes fake profiles and conversations more believable, it’s becoming harder to tell what’s real. That’s why staying skeptical and informed is more important than ever. Here are a few key reminders to protect yourself and your heart: 

• Take things slowly when meeting someone online. 
• Don’t send money or share personal information with anyone you haven’t met face-to-face. 
• Be cautious if someone professes love too quickly or asks for big favors early on. 
• Verify their identity with a live video chat or public social media presence. 
• If something feels off, it probably is. 

Also, remember this: loneliness or hope for connection is nothing to be ashamed of. Identity criminals manipulate emotion because it works. Recognizing that risk is the first step toward protecting yourself. 

If you believe you’ve been targeted or victimized by a romance or relationship scam, you can speak with an expert ITRC advisor on the phone, via text message, chat live on the web or exchange emails during our normal business hours (6 a.m.-5 p.m. PT). Just visit www.idtheftcenter.org to get started. 

Thanks again to Sentilink for their support of the ITRC and this podcast. Please hit the like button for this episode and subscribe wherever you listen to your podcasts.  

We will return next week with another episode of the Weekly Breach Breakdown. I’m Tim Walden. Until then, thanks for listening.