These days, it’s not just the elderly who are being deceived by savvy con artists. Some phony websites look incredibly official, and fake representatives are doing their best to sound convincing — and they do, because they’re spending hours researching your life online before they even pick up the phone. These five scams are so slick, we can’t fault you for falling for them. But we can try to protect you. Here’s what to know so you can separate what’s real from online dating scams and other frauds that should be avoided at all costs.
ROMANCE RUSES AND SEXTORTION
In today’s digital world—where online dating and cyber friendships are ubiquitous—Catfish has become more than just a TV show; for many, it’s a grim reality. According to the Federal Trade Commission, in 2023, there were 64,003 reports of online dating scams, with reported losses totaling $1.14 billion—making it the costliest category of imposter scam last year.
These lucrative love affairs (for the con, natch) usually start on a dating site, a chat room or via social media, including Facebook and Instagram. The scammer will have numerous reasons for why they’re physically unreachable — perhaps they’re in the military, living in another country, or in another state without the money or time to travel.
Once the scammer has you on the hook — and you may have really grown to care about them over the course of several months, with multiple emails and phone calls exchanged — your honey will suddenly, desperately find themselves in a jam. This is when the requests for money start. They may need cash for an illness, to care for a sick family member, to buy a house or car. The list is as long as the scammers are creative, and they aren’t afraid to play the long game. Some con artists put in months of emotional manipulation to build a false sense of trust.
To prevent both your heart and your wallet from bleeding out, there are a few preventative measures you can take:
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Do a reverse image search for your match’s profile picture. If he looks too much like a young Leonardo DiCaprio, he might just be a stock image from Google.
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Look for inconsistencies in their story. Even the best liars get tripped up sometimes.
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Tell a friend. Infatuation can blind you to inconsistencies, so share details of your relationship and listen to outside feedback.
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Ask for an in-person meeting, no exceptions. Planes, trains, and automobiles exist. If they keep making excuses, that’s your red flag.
Finally, if you feel like your crush might be a con artist, report them to the site where you found them, and block them on all channels.
TECH SUPPORT SUSPICION
Tech support scams are some of the slickest frauds out there because they are incredibly adept at disguising themselves as a helping hand. Through legit-looking pop-ups that mimic system alerts, they’ll notify you that your computer is infected and provide a number to call. Many people think, “If I’m calling them, it’s more legit than if they’re calling me.” Wrong. Their real goal is to get you to buy useless or dangerous software — often spyware that gives them access to your email, credit cards, and sensitive documents.
Before you fall for this scam, remind yourself:
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Legit services don’t solicit your business by inviting you to call them.
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If you’re skeptical, search for the company’s official website and call the number listed there.
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A real tech support company would never ask you to pay via gift cards or unconventional methods.
FAKE WEBSITES
Picture it: you’ve been eyeing a jacket online. A few days later, you see an ad offering it at half-off. Looks like destiny, right? Not so fast. Scammers have mastered the art of building polished websites, complete with copied logos and realistic product photos. Shop with them, and your item never arrives — but they do get your credit card info, your name, and your address.
Protect yourself by:
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Googling the URL with “scam” next to it.
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Running the site through a scam detector like URLVoid.
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Checking for security basics like https:// and a padlock symbol.
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Looking for customer service contact info. Real companies provide it.
FAKE FAMILY EMERGENCY
These are some of the most despicable scams because they prey on your emotions. A call comes in: your grandchild has been hurt, arrested, or stranded abroad. Sometimes the scammer even pretends to be your loved one. They’ll use names and details pulled from your social media profiles to make the story believable — then pressure you into wiring money immediately.
Your defense:
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Keep social media private to limit what scammers can learn.
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Hang up and call your family member directly to confirm.
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Remember: no legitimate hospital, jail, or bail bondsman will ever demand money over the phone.
JOB SITE JOKES
Job hunting is stressful enough without scammers in the mix. These fraudsters dangle too-good-to-be-true remote jobs that don’t require interviews. Once you’re “hired,” they ask you to wire money, cash checks, or hand over bank account details for “direct deposit.”
How to avoid:
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Research the company online and confirm it’s real.
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Expect an interview — real employers don’t skip that step.
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Walk away if the role promises high pay for vague duties.
The Bottom Line
Whether it’s online dating scams, tech support fraud, fake shopping sites, family emergency hoaxes, or job-site schemes, today’s scams are designed to look convincing. The goal is always the same: create urgency, exploit your trust, and walk away with your money or identity.
The best defense is skepticism. Take a beat before you click, send, or pay. Verify everything. And remember: if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
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