Romance & Relationship Scam Loss Statistics
Reported financial losses to romance scams and confidence fraud, based on FTC Consumer Sentinel Network and FBI IC3 annual data.
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Romance scams — where fraudsters build fake emotional relationships to extract money — consistently produce among the highest median individual losses of any fraud type. Victims often lose substantial sums over extended periods before recognising the deception.
Figures below are from named FTC and FBI IC3 reports. Actual losses are higher: shame and embarrassment mean romance scams are significantly under-reported.
Key figures
$1.14 billion — with a median loss of $2,000 per report, the highest among all imposter scam sub-categories
Reported romance scam losses (FTC 2024)
Source: FTC Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book 2024 (2024)
$929 million in reported losses
Romance / confidence fraud losses (FBI IC3 2024)
Source: FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) 2024 Annual Report (2024)
Nearly 60% of romance scam reporters said the scammer first contacted them on social media
Romance scam reports mentioning social media (FTC 2024)
Source: FTC Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book 2024 (2024)
64,003 reports in 2023
Romance scam reports received by the FTC (2023, for volume context)
Source: FTC Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book 2023 (2023)
Key takeaways
- Romance scams produced $1.14 billion in reported losses in 2024, with the highest median loss ($2,000) of any imposter scam sub-category tracked by the FTC.
- Nearly 60% of romance scam reports identified social media as the initial point of contact.
- The FBI IC3 recorded $929 million in confidence and romance fraud losses in 2024.
- Under-reporting is a particular problem with romance scams; real losses are likely substantially higher than official figures.
Frequently asked questions
Why are romance scam losses so much higher per person than other fraud types?
Romance scammers invest significant time cultivating trust before asking for money, often over weeks or months. By the time a request is made, victims have developed a strong emotional bond and may comply with multiple requests. Scammers also blend romance fraud with investment fraud — particularly cryptocurrency schemes — which can escalate the total amount lost dramatically.