Romance Baiting

Romance baiting describes the practice of creating a false personal connection — usually through dating apps, social media, or messaging platforms — purely to gain a victim's trust and ultimately their money. The fraudster typically adopts an attractive fake identity, often using stolen photos, and invests days or weeks in conversation before introducing any financial request.

The initial requests are usually small and framed sympathetically: a plane ticket to visit, emergency medical bills, customs fees on a package. Once a victim pays, escalating demands follow. The relationship feels real because the scammer is attentive, consistent, and skilled at emotional manipulation.

Romance baiting is closely related to pig-butchering, but the term is also applied to fraud that never involves investment platforms — the endgame is simply extracting cash or gift-card codes. Victims frequently feel ashamed, which scammers exploit to prevent reporting.