Long-Distance Romance Scams on Dating Apps
Scammers pose as long-distance partners on dating apps, using the distance narrative to justify why they can never meet and to eventually solicit money.
Part of: Long-Distance Romance Scams
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Long-distance romance scams thrive on dating apps because the platform already normalises meeting strangers who are not physically nearby. The scammer's claimed location — another country, a remote worksite, an offshore platform — is presented as a temporary obstacle to an otherwise perfect relationship.
The entire scheme depends on keeping the victim emotionally invested while maintaining plausible reasons for no in-person contact. Dating apps provide a ready-made introduction channel that quickly shifts to private messaging, where oversight is absent.
How this scam works on Dating apps
After matching, the scammer quickly establishes that they live or work far away — often in a high-earning profession such as engineering, medicine, or military service. Communication is intense at first: morning messages, evening calls, declarations of a unique connection.
When a planned visit approaches, an obstacle always arises — a work contract extension, a customs emergency, a visa complication. The obstacle conveniently requires money from the victim to resolve. Victims who send funds are told the situation is nearly resolved and a meeting is imminent, resetting the cycle.
The scheme may run for months or years before the victim realises no meeting will ever occur.
Common red flags
- Matched profile is always located in another country or remote work location
- Planned meetings are repeatedly cancelled at the last minute due to emergencies
- Asks for money to cover travel costs, visa fees, or emergency expenses
- Communication style is inconsistent, suggesting scripted responses
- Avoids questions about local landmarks or daily life in their claimed city
- Pushes to move off the app very early in conversation
How to protect yourself
- Treat any request for money from someone you have never met as a serious warning sign
- Video-call early and often; genuine long-distance partners welcome it
- Verify claimed employment through official channels where possible
- Do not share financial details such as bank account numbers or card details
- Discuss the relationship with friends or family who can offer an outside perspective
How to report it
- Report the profile through the dating app's built-in reporting tools
- Submit a report to your country's internet crime or fraud reporting centre
- Notify your bank if any transfers have been made
Frequently asked questions
Is it always a scam if someone on a dating app says they work abroad?
Not automatically — genuine people work abroad. The warning signs are a refusal to video-call, repeated cancelled plans, and any request for money. Genuine partners do not ask for financial help early in a relationship.