Sweetheart Scams

Getting hit by Cupid's arrow can often feel new and exciting!     


Fairy tale romance can turn out to be too good to be true. Sweetheart or romance scams involve scammers pursuing romantic relationships with their victims with the sole purpose of stealing their hard-earned money. 

At BMI Federal Credit Union, we're here to help protect you and your finances from fraudsters who want to leave you and your accounts broken-hearted. Signs of a sweetheart scam

  • Sweetheart scams overwhelmingly take place online, where scammers can manipulate information to make the situation appear much different than reality. Names and profile pictures may not be truthful. Scammers often feature attractive photos on their profiles to lure you in.
  • Scammers usually move quickly and say all the right things to make their victims feel a sense of attachment right away.
  • They typically give an excuse for not being able to meet in person and say they're working in a profession that often requires travelling for work, i.e., the military, construction, or an overseas student. 
  • Once they establish a romantic and emotional connection with their victim, they'll often ask for money to cover the cost of an emergency, such as car repair, travel expenses, or a phone or internet bill to maintain the connection. 
  • Scammers may start with a small financial ask and then continue to request more money gradually or they may ask for a large sum right away and press for urgent action.
  • They'll often ask for payment through non-traditional methods, such as gift cards or wire transfers. 

How to protect yourself

Always request to meet potential romantic matches in person in a public place or via video, especially before sharing any personal or financial information. If the person refuses, especially multiple times, you'll likely know something is fishy. 

A good rule of thumb is that if something feels too good to be true, it usually is. You can run the situation by a friend or loved one and get their advice. You can also search for their name and 'scam' online to see if any results appear or run a reverse image search to determine the origin of their profile picture. You should never feel pressured to send money or share your personal financial information. If the person you've connected with is in it for the right reason, they'll never pressure you to give them money. 

Never give out personal information such as:

  • Online Banking Credentials
  • 2-Factor Authentication Codes
  • Social Security Number
  • Account Number

We're here to help 


If you've already sent money or someone has your financial information, contact us and any other financial institution right away. If you have questions about your financial well-being or if something doesn't feel quite right, give us a call or visit a local branch today. We're here to help make sure you and your hard-earned money are well protected. 

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(February 2026)