Romance Scammers Turn Sweet Talk into $929 Million Payday in 2025

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Confidence/romance scams are an even bigger problem in the US, where they rank as the fifth most costly form of cybercrime. An annual report from the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) estimated total losses in 2025 at $929.4 million, ahead of data breaches, phishing, extortion, and ransomware.

"Offenders will often spend significant time building what appears to be a genuine relationship before attempting to exploit their victim financially," he added. "While the monetary losses can be substantial, the emotional impact is often just as damaging. This crime can affect anyone, and by reporting it, victims help us build intelligence, disrupt offenders, and protect others from harm."

https://www.theregister.com/2026/05/05/romance_scam_figures/