A retiree in south-western Germany received a simple compliment on Instagram from a stranger, sparking what seemed like a genuine romantic connection. Over several weeks, the two communicated daily, but the victim soon noticed inconsistencies — the writing style shifted between formal and informal registers, triggering suspicion. This encounter reflects a growing crime that has become one of the fastest-spreading forms of online fraud in the world.
Authorities across the globe are sounding alarms about the scale of romance fraud. In a 2025 operation, Interpol arrested 260 suspects involved in romance scams across African nations, identifying 1,463 victims who collectively lost nearly US$2.8mil (RM11.3mil). The FBI recorded almost 18,000 romance scam complaints in 2024 alone, with victims suffering combined losses of US$672mil (RM2.72bil). A 2024 Visa-sponsored survey in Germany revealed that three in five respondents were familiar with such scams, while one in seven reported being targeted.
Scammers employ a consistent playbook: they craft elaborate fake profiles presenting themselves as successful, attractive professionals with international connections. They build emotional relationships over weeks or months, then fabricate emergencies or financial crises to solicit money. A 72-year-old Dresden woman transferred €115,000 (RM540,304) to someone claiming to be living in China over six months before authorities became involved. The suspect posed as a civil engineer who needed funds due to supposed hardship.
Artificial intelligence has fundamentally transformed the criminal landscape. According to Professor Martin Steinebach of Germany's Fraunhofer Institute for Secure Information Technology, AI has made fraud substantially more accessible and convincing. Scammers can now generate fake identities, photographs and backstories in minutes, making it difficult for ordinary people to distinguish genuine content from fabrications.
While middle-aged and older women have historically been targeted most frequently, fraudsters now cast wider nets. They may impersonate romantic interests, friends or even family members to establish credibility before requesting financial assistance. Criminal networks operating from regions including South-East Asia, Nigeria and Ghana have built sophisticated infrastructure around this crime. As technology continues to advance, authorities warn that vigilance and awareness remain essential defences against these increasingly convincing schemes.
