CRIME & LAW

Officials Warn of Rising Valentine's Day Romance Scams

PUBLISHED Feb 10, 2026, 7:29 AM ET

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Sources: 9

United States: Federal and state officials and consumer groups warned that online romance and relationship-investment scams are increasing around Valentine's Day, exploiting dating apps, social media and messaging platforms. Agencies including the Better Business Bureau, AARP and state insurance divisions reported rising reports and financial losses, citing FTC figures and local case tallies. Law enforcement and consumer agencies described tactics such as long‑term relationship building, refusal of video calls, urgent money requests, and AI‑generated personalized messages. Officials urged vigilance, reporting to authorities and use of BBB and local resources to recover funds. Based on 6 articles reviewed and supporting research.

By Neha R. | JQJO News

Timeline of Events

2021: BBBs across North America recorded 276 romance scam reports, a 13% increase from 2020.
2024: FTC reported $12.5 billion in investment-related scam losses nationwide.
2024: Iowa Insurance Division logged approximately $7.27 million in senior exploitation cases.
2025: Iowa reported $19.4 million in senior exploitation cases, a 102% increase from 2024.
This week (Feb 2026): Local and national agencies issued Valentine's Day warnings and consumer guidance on romance and investment scams.

Media Bias

Articles Published:: 9
Right Leaning:: 0
Left Leaning:: 0
Neutral:: 9
Distribution:: Left 0%, Center 100%, Right 0%

Who Benefited

Scammers and operators of fraudulent platforms benefited financially from victims' trust and the scalability of digital tools facilitating deception.

Who Impacted

Older adults, dating-app users and other consumers across states suffered financial losses and emotional harm, according to BBB, FTC, AARP and state reports.