Romance scams that target diaspora communities, and how to report them

A romance scam is a fake relationship built to get your money. In May 2026 Report Fraud said it had received 10,784 reports of romance fraud across the UK in 2025, up 29% on 2024, with losses of more than £102 million and an average loss of about £9,500. In the US, the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center received about 23,768 romance scam complaints in 2020 with losses of around $605 million, and the FBI notes the true figure is likely higher because many victims are too embarrassed to report.

People with family in another country are an attractive target, because so many of the stories scammers tell, about visas, flights, sick relatives and money transfers, sound ordinary to them.

Why diaspora singles are targeted

Scammers target diaspora communities because shared background builds trust fast, and the stories they need (money abroad, visas, family emergencies) already sound normal. "Diaspora" here means people whose families came from another country and who keep ties with it, through relatives, language, faith or regular trips home.

Scammers study the communities they target. They may write in your language, quote your scripture, claim to come from your parents' home town, or say their family knows yours. Being careful is not the same as being suspicious of your own community; it just means money requests get the same checks whoever is asking.

The patterns to know

Most diaspora romance scams follow one of a handful of stories, and every one ends with a request for money, your bank details or your help moving funds.

The visa or ticket. They want to come and meet you, or marry you, but need money for a visa, a flight, an "immigration fee" or a "proof of funds" deposit. The FBI lists airfare among the most common requests. In the US, USCIS runs its own scams page and says reporting a scam won't affect your own application.

The family emergency abroad. A parent in hospital, a child's school fees, a funeral, or an arrest and bail. The story is urgent, the sum is always just within reach, and there is a reason you can't call anyone to check.

The investment tip. After weeks of friendly chat, the conversation turns to money: a crypto platform, a trading app, a "family business opportunity". The Federal Trade Commission warns that romance scammers often build a relationship over time and then offer to help you invest. Early "profits" are fake, and the money cannot be withdrawn.

The money mule. They ask you to receive money into your account and send it on, or to open an account or business in your name. The FBI warns that victims can be groomed into moving stolen money without realising it, which can get you into legal trouble.

The go-between. Some scams arrive through a "relative", "matchmaker" or "family friend" in a community WhatsApp group who vouches for the person. A recommendation from a stranger online is not a family introduction. Check who they are with someone you know in real life.

Photos and threats. Some scammers ask for intimate photos and then threaten to share them, sometimes with your family, unless you pay. This is sextortion, a form of blackmail. The FBI Boston office lists requests for inappropriate photos among the warning signs.

Warning signs in the first few weeks

The FBI and FTC describe signs that turn up again and again:

• They want to move from the dating site to WhatsApp, Telegram or another app straight away.
• They seem unusually perfect, and declare strong feelings or talk of "fate" very quickly.
• They live or work far away, often overseas.
• They promise to meet or video call but always cancel because of an emergency.
• Their stories are vague, or details change.
• They try to separate you from friends and family, or ask you to keep the relationship secret.
• They ask for money, gift cards, crypto, bank details or help moving funds.

A reverse image search of their profile photos, which the FTC suggests, can show whether the pictures belong to someone else.

Simple rules that protect you

• Never send money, gift cards or crypto to someone you haven't met in person, whatever the reason and however long you've talked.
• Never move money through your account for someone else.
• Video call early. Repeated excuses are a red flag.
• Tell someone you trust. Scammers rely on secrecy. A sibling or friend will often see what you can't.
• Check stories independently. Call the hospital or school yourself using a number you find, not one they give you.
• Keep the chat on the dating site at first, so the site can see and act on reports.
• Don't send intimate photos to someone you haven't met.

If it's happened to you

You are not foolish; these are professional criminals who do this full time. Act quickly, in this order:

1. Stop all payments and contact. Don't send "one last" payment to release the rest.
2. Call your bank straight away. In the UK you can dial 159 to reach most banks' fraud teams safely. In the US, contact your bank or payment app and ask it to stop or reverse the transaction.
3. Report it.
   • England, Wales and Northern Ireland: Report Fraud, online at reportfraud.police.uk or on 0300 123 2040.
   • Scotland: Police Scotland on 101.
   • US: the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov.
4. Report the profile to the dating site. On Just Singles you can report a profile through the members help centre; our safety page explains how, and our contact page says what to include.
5. Keep everything: messages, usernames, payment receipts and bank details they gave you.
6. Be wary of "recovery" offers. People who contact you promising to get your money back for a fee are often part of the same scam.

If someone is threatening to share intimate images, police advice on sextortion is: don't pay or negotiate, stop contact, block them, keep the evidence and report it, on 101 in the UK or 999 if you are in danger. The Revenge Porn Helpline supports UK adults on 0345 6000 459, and StopNCII.org can help adults stop intimate images appearing on participating platforms, without the images leaving your device. In the US, report it to the FBI at ic3.gov.

Talking to family about it

Scams often run through families: a parent being targeted, or a relative abroad asking you to pay a stranger. Talking openly about these patterns in family groups, and in your own languages, protects people who might not read an English warning.

Example message for a family group: "Please be careful: there are scams where someone you meet online asks for money for a visa, a hospital bill or an investment. If anyone asks you for money, call me first. No shame, we'll check it together."

Share this page with anyone who might need it.

Dating safely with family abroad

None of this means avoiding people from your own community or from abroad. It means keeping money out of a relationship until you have met, more than once, in person. Our guides to long-distance relationships when your families live in different countries and British Asian dating cover meeting safely. For how Just Singles works, including what we check (photos) and what we don't (what members write), see how it works.