Online relationship scams have become common as many people search for a partner outside of their home community. Scammers will study your social media profile, learning about your friendships and interests. They’ll try to start a relationship with you on social media, often by sending you a private message you weren’t expecting. They’ll tell you exactly what you want to hear and gain your trust over weeks or months before convincing you to send them money due to an emergency or other urgent need. In some cases, they may promise to pay you back along with a major windfall, once you’re finally able to be together.

Relationship scams can be very convincing, and you may find yourself emotionally invested in a short amount of time. It’s important to be aware that the personal information you share on social media helps scammers create the illusion of a ‘perfect match’ — they make you believe the relationship is real.

Follow these tips to avoid relationship scams:

• Be cautious of strangers online, especially if they contact you unprompted
• Be wary of anyone who forms an intense bond with you in a short amount of time
• Be skeptical if a person you haven’t met asks you for money for medical or legal expenses, or because they are stranded in a foreign country
• Never send funds to an online friend or partner that you have not met in person
• Never complete a transaction where you are instructed to lie to your financial institution
• Let us know if you believe you are caught up in a relationship scam. We will take steps to protect your accounts, review red flags, and give you information on how to protect yourself.

Let’s work together to prevent fraud

Coastal Community works around the clock to safeguard your accounts. If you suspect fraud, click here to report it right away.

Learning how to recognize fraud is the first step to protecting yourself. Learn more.