Crypto Romance Scams: What They Are and How to Report
A crypto romance scam is a fake romance that persuades you to send crypto. Scammers often use fake exchange apps that show profits and block withdrawals.
Vahe HakobyanEditor-in-chief
Updated Oct 5, 20263 min readFact-checked
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- Warning signs include refusing video calls and rushing intimacy.
- Do not share recovery phrases, private keys, or passwords.
- Report to the FTC, FBI IC3, and state regulator.
Scammers use cryptocurrency because payments are hard to reverse and can move across borders quickly, so Cryptocurrency scam recovery options are limited.
What is a crypto romance scam?
A crypto romance scam is fraud where someone fakes romantic interest to get your money or crypto. The scammer may claim an emergency or suggest a crypto investment.
What are the warning signs?
Warning signs often appear early. A video call is not proof of who someone is.
How does the scam work?
The scam often starts with a fake profile on a dating site or social media. After building trust, the scammer invents an emergency or pitches a crypto investment.
- They send you to a fake exchange app.
- The app shows fake profits.
- It blocks withdrawals or asks for more payments.
How do I protect my crypto?
Protection starts with keeping your account details private.
How do I report it in the US?
Reporting helps investigations and warns others, even when it cannot return funds. Recovery scammers pose as helpers and ask for more money.
Frequently asked questions
Usually not. A transfer can usually be returned only if the scammer sends it back.
Cut off contact, call the exchange or ATM operator, and report to the FTC and IC3.
Usually not. Crypto payments lack the legal protections of credit or debit cards.
They overlap. Pig butchering is a broader investment fraud that often uses a fake romance.
