Has someone you met online suddenly asked for emergency money?

Common warning signs of a romance scam

• The relationship becomes serious very quickly. Someone you have never met may express strong feelings, affection or long-term plans unusually early.
• They quickly move the conversation elsewhere. A person may ask to leave the dating or social platform and continue through private messaging apps.
• They repeatedly avoid meeting or video calling. There may always be another reason why they cannot meet, travel or appear live on camera.
• A sudden emergency needs money. Common stories involve medical bills, travel problems, family emergencies, business trouble, legal problems or being unable to access their own money.
• They ask for unusual payment methods. Requests may involve bank transfers, cryptocurrency, gift cards or sending money to another person.
• They ask you to keep the situation secret. Scammers may discourage you from discussing the relationship or payment request with friends and family.
• The requests keep growing. After one payment, another emergency or unexpected problem may appear and require more money.

An emergency does not prove the story is real

Romance scammers often create situations designed to make you feel that you must act immediately. The request may involve illness, hospital treatment, travel costs, a frozen bank account, customs charges or another crisis.

Do not send money simply because the story sounds urgent or emotionally convincing. Take time to verify what you are being told independently.

Ways to check who you are talking to

Take things slowly. Search their name independently and look for inconsistencies in their story.

A reverse image search may show whether their photographs appear elsewhere online under different names or identities.

Talk to a trusted friend or family member about the situation. Someone outside the relationship may notice warning signs that are difficult to see when emotions are involved.

If you already sent money

Stop sending further payments. Contact your bank or payment provider as soon as possible using independently obtained official contact details.

Save messages, usernames, payment records and screenshots. Report the account to the platform where you met the person and use the appropriate official scam-reporting service for your country.

What ScamAssessor looks for

ScamAssessor checks combinations of warning signs including emergency-money requests, rapid relationship escalation, repeated crises, secrecy, cryptocurrency or gift-card payments, unusual transfer instructions and emotional pressure.

ScamAssessor provides a risk assessment, not proof. A low-risk result does not prove that an online relationship, identity or request for money is genuine. Verify sensitive requests independently.