Skip to Main Content
Doing More Today
  • News
  • Community
    • Associates in Action
    • Community Engagement
    • Small Business
    • Economic Development
  • Insights & Innovation
    • Economic Commentary
    • Insights
    • Innovation
  • Financial Wellness
    • Financial Wellness
    • Fraud Prevention
  • See the Good
    • Culture
    • Good Company
    • Good Towns
    • Good Pets
    • Ecards
    • Recipes
    • Riding Forward
Subscribe Now
Regions Bank

Regions Bank: Doing More Today: Good stories. Better insights. More possibilities.

Share
Share on Facebook
Share on X
Share on LinkedIn
Share via Email
Subscribe
illustration of a heart with an exclamation point in the...
Category: Fraud Prevention

Bad Love: 5 Signs of Romance Scams

Losses from romance scams have reached record levels. Here’s how to spot a romance scam – and steps to take if you fall victim.

By Kyndle Huey | February 1, 2023

Love, it’s exciting and new – except when it’s a sham. Stick with us here.

As online dating continues to rise in popularity, unfortunately, so do romance scams. In fact, according to the Federal Trade Commission, Americans lost a record $547 million to romance scams in 2021.

So, what is a romance scam, and how can you protect yourself?

“The simple definition of a romance scam is where a scammer is targeting a victim in a romantic relationship and is trying to woo them to fall in love with them,” says Bryan Clark, Senior Corporate Security Field Investigator at Regions. “But the ultimate goal for them is to steal their finances and get access to their money.”

How to Avoid Romance Scams

So, how do you protect yourself from romance scams? By keeping your eyes open – and your arms wrapped around your money.

 

Don White, head of Corporate Security at Regions, shares five romance scam red flags to look for:

  1. Your new love interest immediately asks for an email or phone number. “Scammers often want to get you off the online dating messaging platform and try to contact you privately through your personal email or phone,” explains White.
  2. They will share their photo with you but won’t join a live call or chat where you can actually see them.
  3. They profess love right away, after messaging for only a short period of time and before you have met in person.
  4. They don’t use your name, but rather use terms of endearment such as sweetheart and honey. According to White, this is “because they are juggling many different individuals and it’s easier to use that term of endearment as opposed to calling you by name or even remembering your name.”
  5. They claim to have an urgent need to get money – for instance, they have a family or medical emergency and are unable to get to their funds.

 

When it comes to romance scams, fraudsters don’t discriminate on age or income.

“Everyone can potentially fall victim to a romance scam. If you are out there looking for love, you are a potential victim,” Clark explains.

To safeguard yourself, never give out your account information or wire money to someone you’ve only met online. And remember, says White, “It’s not true love if they’re asking you for money.”

 

What To Do if You Fall for a Romance Scam

 

Unfortunately, people still fall for romance scams. If you have been a victim of a romance scam, there are several steps you should take:

  • Call your bank and let them know if you have given out your account number or other information.
  • File a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at IC3.gov.
  • Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
  • Report it to the dating website.

 

To learn more about romance scams and what to do you if you think you or a loved one may be entangled in one, listen to this Regions Wealth Podcast on romance scams.

The information presented is general in nature and should not be considered, legal, accounting or tax advice. Regions reminds its customers that they should be vigilant about fraud and security and that they are responsible for taking action to protect their computer systems. Fraud prevention requires a continuous review of your policies and practices, as the threat evolves daily. There is no guarantee that all fraudulent transactions will be prevented or that related financial losses will not occur. Visit regions.com/STOPFRAUD or speak with your Banker for further information on how you can help prevent fraud.

 

Learn more ways to fight fraud on Doing More Today:

  • Imposter Scams: 6 Steps to Stop Criminals Cold
  • Cybersecurity Reminder: Think Twice Before Authorizing That Payment
  • 7 Steps to Fight Elder Fraud

 

Share
Share on Facebook
Share on X
Share on LinkedIn
Share via Email
Subscribe

Trending Articles

  • 1.

    Regions Recognized for Excellence in Mortgage Servicing

  • 2.

    Service and Support: Regions Bank Launches Disaster-Recovery Options for Consumers, Businesses

  • 3.

    Kay Goke: Using Her Many Talents to Serve Others

  • 4.

    Regions Bank Named 2025 Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award Winner

  • 5.

    The Return of Good Pets

Related Articles

Emily Dugas, Regions banker receiving her first handwritten note of...
Category: Culture

Celebrating Frontline Branch Heroes

Jenise Wright and icons depicting aspects of education and teaching.
Category: Community Engagement

School Spirit

Illustration of a text message alert on a cell phone.
Category: Fraud Prevention

Text Message Scams: 6 Steps to Avoid Becoming a Victim

Incoming cell phone call from a bank and alert icon.
Category: Fraud Prevention

#BanksNeverAskThat – And Neither Does Regions

Groups of Regions associates next to canoes and topsoil and...
Category: Community Engagement

Earth Week Spring Cleaning

Illustration of a thief mask with caution symbol and the...
Category: Fraud Prevention

FBI Warns of Impersonation Scams

Four featured in Birmingham Business Journal small business owners.
Category: Small Business

No Ordinary Story

Jeff Taylor, Regions Bank’s head of Commercial Fraud Forensics, met...
Category: Fraud Prevention

Extra Credit: 4 Fraud Truths to Remember

Regions.com | About Regions | Investor Relations | Privacy & Security | Website Terms of Use | Contact Regions | Careers at Regions
© 2025 Regions Bank Member FDIC |
All Rights Reserved | Member FDIC | Equal Housing Lender | Online Privacy