LDS Safety Hub

Safety Hub - Romance Scam Prevention

🛡️ Safety Hub

Your comprehensive guide to safe online dating and romance scam prevention

Romance Scam Protection

⚠️ Stay Alert

Romance scammers steal billions of dollars annually. Learn the warning signs to protect yourself.

What is a Romance Scam?

Romance scammers create fake profiles to build emotional relationships with victims, ultimately manipulating them into sending money or personal information.

  • They often use stolen photos of attractive people
  • They build trust through constant communication
  • They create urgency around financial requests

Protect Yourself

Simple steps can help you avoid becoming a victim of romance fraud.

  • Always verify identity through video calls
  • Never send money to someone you haven't met
  • Trust your instincts if something feels wrong

Quick Statistics

$1.3B
Lost to romance scams in 2022
70,000+
Reported victims annually
$18,000
Average loss per victim

Warning Signs to Watch For

These red flags can help you identify potential romance scammers before you become a victim.

💕 Professes love very quickly

Claims to be in love within days or weeks of first contact

💰 Asks for money or financial help

Requests money for emergencies, travel, or other urgent needs

📞 Avoids phone or video calls

Makes excuses to avoid real-time voice or video communication

📷 Limited or suspicious photos

Very few photos, professional-looking images, or refuses video calls

Common Scammer Stories

The Military Story

Claims to be deployed overseas, can't access their money, needs help with expenses.

The Medical Emergency

Sudden illness or accident requiring immediate financial assistance.

The Travel Crisis

Stranded while traveling, needs money for flights or accommodation.

The Business Opportunity

Investment opportunity or business venture requiring upfront payment.

Safety Checklist

Follow these essential safety practices to protect yourself while online dating.

Verify their identity through video calls
Meet in public places for initial dates
Tell friends/family about your dating plans
Trust your instincts if something feels wrong
Never send money or financial information
Do reverse image searches on their photos
Keep personal information private initially
Watch for inconsistencies in their stories

Additional Safety Tips

Use the platform's messaging system until you're comfortable sharing personal contact info
Research their background using search engines and social media
Be wary of anyone who asks detailed questions about your financial situation
If meeting in person, choose a public place and let someone know your plans

Report Suspicious Activity

Help protect the community by reporting suspected scammers and fraudulent profiles.

🚩 Report a Scammer

Report suspicious profiles or romance scam attempts to our safety team.

Submit Report

📞 Emergency Support

If you've been scammed, contact authorities immediately.

FTC: 1-877-FTC-HELP
FBI IC3: ic3.gov

What Happens Next?

1. Report Review
Our safety team reviews all reports within 24 hours
2. Investigation
We investigate the profile and associated accounts
3. Action Taken
Confirmed scammers are permanently banned from our platform