In today’s digital age, romance scams have become one of the most deceptive and emotionally devastating forms of online fraud. These scams not only break hearts but also lead to severe financial loss. DJK Law Group presents this article to help you decode how romance scams work and share practical self-protection tips.

1. What is a Romance Scam? A romance scam involves a criminal who fakes an identity to form a relationship online with a victim. Once trust is gained, they fabricate a crisis and manipulate the victim into sending money or personal information.

Victims believe they’re in a genuine relationship, unaware they are being exploited emotionally and financially.

1. The Step-by-Step Scam Chain 1）Creating a Fake Persona Scammers build attractive fake profiles on dating apps, social media, or gaming platforms, using stolen photos and invented identities (e.g., doctors, soldiers, successful professionals abroad).

2）Building Emotional Trust They initiate daily conversations, share fabricated life stories, and create an emotional bond with the victim over time.

3）Promising a Future Once trust deepens, scammers promise love, marriage, or joint business investments, painting a rosy future to gain deeper emotional involvement.

4）Inventing a Crisis and Asking for Money Suddenly, they claim to face a crisis—medical emergencies, travel issues, detained abroad, etc.—and request urgent financial help.

5）Playing Push and Pull When the victim hesitates, they use emotional blackmail or fake hurt feelings, sometimes pretending to pay back with fake bank receipts to build further trust.

6）Disappearance Eventually, they vanish—deleting accounts, blocking contacts—leaving the victim emotionally devastated and financially ruined.

1. Real-Life Case Ms. Zhang met “Mr. Li” on a social platform. He claimed to be a successful engineer living in Singapore. After three months of deep emotional bonding (even with AI-generated video calls), he said he was stuck in Thailand and needed SGD $100,000.

Trusting him, she sent the money. Over the next few weeks, he continued making requests. Eventually, all contact ceased. She had lost SGD $500,000.

1. Warning Signs to Watch Out For Too-perfect profile with unverifiable details

Rapid declarations of love

Refusal to meet in person or video chat

Always facing emergencies needing financial help

Inconsistent personal details

Bank account names not matching their identity

1. Self-Protection Tips & Legal Advice ✅ Stay Rational – Avoid being blinded by affection, especially in online relationships. ✅ Verify Identity – Insist on real-time video or voice calls. ✅ Never Transfer Money – No matter how touching their story sounds. ✅ Save Evidence – Keep chat logs, transaction records, and screenshots. ✅ Report Immediately – Contact police and a legal professional without delay.

2. How DJK Law Group Can Help As experienced legal advocates, DJK Law Group offers:

Legal support for scam victims

Assistance with police reports

Coordination with banks for fund tracing and freezing

Cross-border legal coordination

Public training on scam prevention