Romance scams now blend with crypto investment fraud — the FBI tracks them under one umbrella because the playbook is identical. If your "match" eventually mentions trading, it's not a coincidence.
Warning signs
- The profile is *too* polished. Model-tier photos, 6-figure career, recently widowed.
- They want to leave the dating app fast (Hinge → WhatsApp → Telegram).
- Their schedule conveniently never lines up with video calls (or the call ends in 30 seconds with "bad signal").
- They love-bomb within a week.
- A "mentor", "uncle", or "Goldman friend" eventually appears in conversation.
- They send screenshots of trading profits and offer to "teach you".
- They never want to meet in person — always one more business trip.
Exact scripts to expect
"I don't usually do this, but you remind me of someone I lost."
"My uncle is a quant. He gave me access to a private platform. I made $48k last month."
"Start small — even $500 to see how it works."
"The only thing left is the 20% tax. Once we pay it, we withdraw everything together."
If any of those land in your DMs, you are already 6 steps into the 7-stage playbook.
Verify any match in 30 seconds
Reverse-image-search the photos (Google Lens, TinEye, PimEyes). Paste the suspected platform URL into GACS's free Safe Scanner. Paste the wallet address they send into GACS's Wallet Checker. Three free checks, four seconds, no signup.