DATING SCAM DETECTORReal patterns behind romance scams, written in plain language — how they work, why the tactics are effective, and exactly where to report one if it happens to you. Every guide links back to the free checker if you want to test a real conversation.
Scam Types
What Is a Romance Scam?
The full arc, step by stepHow Trust Gets Built
Love bombing & mirroringMoving Off the App
Why WhatsApp, so fastThe Crypto Request
Pig butchering explainedThe Gift Card Request
Why it's a hard red flagMilitary Deployment Scams
Verifying a soldier's storyInheritance & Travel Emergencies
The "small fee, big payout" trapFake Investment Platforms
When it escalates furtherSextortion vs Catfishing
Different threats, different responsesEmergency Money Scams
Recognizing the askGift Card Scam Checklist
5-point quick checkIn-Depth Guides
Pig Butchering Scams
Inside the crime waveFinancial Sextortion
The first 24 hoursReverse Image Search
Step-by-step tutorialElder Romance Scams
A family guideLGBTQ+ Dating Scams
Sextortion & extortionAlready Sent Money?
Recovery & reportingThe Psychology of Love Bombing
Why smart people fall for itDating App Safety Settings
Platform-by-platformReal Court Cases
What prosecutions revealAI Deepfakes & Voice Cloning
The new frontierBy Location
Ontario
Reporting via the CAFCToronto
Local + national reportingVancouver
Local + national reportingMontreal
Local + national reportingCanada
National overviewUnited States
FTC & IC3 reportingUnited Kingdom
Action Fraud reportingAustralia
Scamwatch reportingMore guides are added regularly. If there's a scam pattern or location you'd like covered, let us know.