A step-by-step guide for US readers on reporting a romance scam to the FTC, the FBI’s IC3 and the dating app, plus what to do if you sent money.
How to plan a first date with someone you met online: where to meet, who to tell, getting there and home on your own terms, drinks, and how to leave early.
Simple ways to confirm a dating match is who they claim to be: video calls, reverse image searches, verification badges and the inconsistencies worth noticing.
How romance scammers work, the stories they use, why requests for gift cards, crypto or wire transfers give them away, and what to do if you’ve sent money.
How often to get tested for STIs under CDC guidance, where to get tested, how condoms, PrEP and vaccines fit in, and how to bring up testing with a new partner.
How sextortion scams work, why paying rarely ends them, the federal TAKE IT DOWN Act’s 48-hour removal rule, and where adults and teens can get images removed.