What it looks like
"Good morning my love. I wish I could be there with you. The rig manager is holding my pay until the contract ends, and I need $2,500 for customs fees to release my equipment. I will pay you back the day I land."
An example. Real ones change their wording, amounts and names all the time.
How it works
Romance scammers make fake profiles on dating sites, social media and even game apps, using photos stolen from real people. They write every day, remember small details, and say loving things early. Many people talk with them for months. The relationship feels real because the attention is real, even though the person is not.
There is always a reason they cannot meet. They are deployed overseas, working on an oil rig, or caring for a sick relative abroad. A trip to see you gets planned, then something goes wrong: a hospital bill, a stuck shipment, a fee to get home. Some never ask for help at all, and instead offer to teach you about a crypto investment.
This fools kind, smart people because the scammer spends weeks earning trust before asking for anything. By then, saying no feels like doubting someone you love. The FTC's rule is simple and worth holding onto: never send money or gifts to a sweetheart you have not met in person.
Signs it is fake
- They live or work far away, such as on an oil rig, in the military overseas, or as a doctor with an aid group
- There is always a reason they cannot video chat or meet in person
- Strong feelings very quickly, and a push to move from the dating site to texting or WhatsApp
- A sudden need for money for medical bills, travel or customs fees, or a crypto investment they want to share with you
- Requests for gift cards, wire transfers, payment apps or cryptocurrency
What to do
- Never send money or gifts to someone you have not met in person.
- Search their photo with a reverse image search, and search the job they claim plus the word 'scammer'.
- Talk to a friend or family member you trust. An outside view helps.
- Stop writing to them and report the profile to the dating site or app.
If you already clicked, called or paid
- Call your bank or the payment company right away. Speed matters.
- Report it at reportfraud.ftc.gov and ic3.gov.
- Be wary of anyone who later offers to get your money back for a fee. That is a second scam.
Being fooled is not your fault. These messages are made by professionals to look real. Acting quickly is what matters. See what to do if you paid a scammer.
Not sure about a message?
Forward it to Uncle at +1 208 214 0093, or send a screenshot. He tells you plainly what looks wrong. He never asks for passwords or codes, and he never texts first. How it works.
Worried about a parent? With the Family plan, you get a heads up when a likely scam reaches them.
More common scams
- Tech support pop-up
- Phantom hacker scam
- Fake invoice or renewal email
- Online marketplace scam
- See all common scams
Written by the Textuncle team. Last updated October 3, 2026.
Text Uncle