Understanding and Preventing Romance Scams

In the last decade, romance scams have increasingly accelerated worldwide. Initially, these scams were prevalent in Nigeria and Ghana, where young boys opened fake profiles on Facebook, pretending to be military soldiers from the United States (USA) using stolen photos. They knew how to manipulate women, usually targeting older ladies. These scammers would create fake identities, provide fake documents predicting marriage, and eventually take all the life savings of these women, who sometimes sent them money for years.

Today’s Targets: Men from Canada and the United States

Today, romance scams are more common and usually target men from Canada (CA) and the United States (USA). These scams often operate from Southeast Asia, particularly along the Myanmar border with Thailand. Chinese gang members run "black" call centers with kidnapped workers forced into modern slavery, conducting online scams.

How Romance Scams Operate

These scam groups contact men on Instagram and dating apps like Tinder, OkCupid, Bumble, Eharmony, and Hinge. They pretend to be women, usually using photos of Asian girls, and start a friendship or relationship. Once they gain the victim's trust, they talk about investing in cryptocurrency (crypto) and claim they can help the victim make money. The victim buys bitcoins or USDT on crypto exchanges and transfers these funds to the criminals. The scammers then add this balance to a fake trading website or platform, which looks legitimate but is just a demo account. This type of romance scam involves not only love but also a business opportunity for the victims.

Financial Impact and Recovery after Love Scam

People lose more than a billion dollars every year in the United States due to romance scams. We are familiar with these gang operations and have already returned more than 100 million dollars to romance scam victims in the USA. If you find yourself in the worst situation of your life when a romance scam affects your finances, contact us, and we will assist you with a full investigation. Our romance scam detective will try to recover your lost money, crypto, bitcoin, or USDT from a romance scam. If you suspect that you are a romance scam victim but are unsure, share your story. It may save your life and keep you financially and mentally safe from the disasters of romance scams and fraud.

Emerging Trends in Romance Scams: Southeast Asia

In recent years, there has been a significant increase in romance scams originating from Southeast Asia, particularly from the Myanmar border with Thailand and Cambodia. These scams have become more sophisticated and widespread, targeting victims worldwide.

Southeast Asia Leading in Online Dating Fraud

As of 2025, thousands of people have been rescued from scam centers operating along the Myanmar-Thailand border. These centers, often run by criminal gangs, exploit the region's instability and ongoing conflicts to carry out various online scams, including romance fraud. Many of the individuals working in these centers were lured with false promises of legitimate jobs and then trafficked into virtual slavery.

International Crackdown on Love Fraud

In response to the growing threat, international efforts have intensified to shut down these scam centers. Thailand, China, and Myanmar have coordinated operations to rescue victims and repatriate them to their home countries. The United Nations estimates that as many as 120,000 people may be working in online scam centers in Myanmar, with another 100,000 trapped in similar facilities across Cambodia.

Impact on Love Scam Victims

Victims of these scams often suffer significant financial losses and emotional distress. The scam centers use various tactics to manipulate and deceive individuals, making it challenging for victims to recognize the fraud until it's too late. The international crackdown aims to dismantle these operations and provide support to those affected.

Tips Not to Fall Victim to Love Scams

• Be cautious when communicating with individuals you meet online.
• Never send money to someone you haven't met in person.
• Verify the identity of the person you're communicating with by conducting a reverse image search on Google Photos of their profile pictures.
• Be wary of individuals who claim to have an urgent financial need or ask for money for medical emergencies, travel expenses, investment, or other personal reasons.
• If your lover is asking for money, it is a huge red flag. It's important to evaluate the situation carefully and consider whether it might be a scam.
• While there isn't a comprehensive list of dating scammers, you can find information on common tactics and warning signs used by scammers by clicking here.

Get Money Back from Romance Scam

If you suspect that you have fallen victim to a romance scam and need help to get money back, contact us at FundsRefund. Our team of experts specializes in romance scam recovery, and we will assist you with a full investigation to recover your lost funds. We have successfully helped many victims recover their money, crypto, bitcoin, or USDT from romance scams.

How to Report a Romance Scam

Report the scam to our support at support@fundsrefund.com or through the contact form at the end of the page.