Just this year, a Westfield resident lost nearly $100,000 to a romance scam. This type of dupery can happen even in Indiana. According to the FBI, victims of romance scams lost $1 billion in 2021 alone. 

Here are a few warning signs that someone might be more interested in your money or personal information than a relationship:

• Your new romantic interest sends a picture that doesn’t look realistic. Rather, the person looks more like a model from a fashion magazine. 
• The relationship is moving fast, and the other person quickly professes their love for you. 
• The person attempts to isolate you from friends and family. 

• The person requests inappropriate photos or financial information that could later be used against you. 
• The person can’t meet you in person or communicate on facetime. 
• The person asks you for money to buy their ticket to visit you, help pay for medical expenses (for them or a family member) or invest in a business. 
• The person tells you how to pay. He or she requires specific payment methods that are hard to recoup, such as a wire transfer, preloaded gift card, cryptocurrency, or money transfer app. 

If you ever suspect a scam of any type, file a complaint at indianaconsumer.com or call Attorney General Todd Rokita’s office at 1-800-382-5516.