Module 5, Page 5 – Romance Scam. What to do if someone tries to manipulate your feelings online?

Page 5 of 8

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Video Transcript

Golden Rules.

1 – Do not send money to someone you have not met in person.

2 – Real love does not ask for money, especially from someone you have never met.

3 – Scammers often say they are overseas or cannot meet.

4 – Slow things down if someone pressures you to get money.

5 – Talk to someone you trust before making any decisions.

The national picture. These scams are part of a much bigger story. In 2025, Americans 60 and older reported losing $7.748 billion to online fraud across 201,266 victims. Read Stolen Trust, our 2026 special study that maps the full elder-fraud landscape, with five years of FBI data and one practical plan to fix it.