'Happy Money' Episode 8: Chatting Online? AARP Romance Scams Expert Says Watch for These 6 Red Flags
Finding love and connection in midlife should be one of life’s sweetest chapters—but unfortunately, criminals are lurking online, ready to prey on kind-hearted women seeking companionship. The good news? You have the power to protect yourself.
In Episode 8 of Woman’s World’s new Happy Money video series, which is all about finances in midlife, host Digital Director Julia Dennison sits down with Amy Nofziger, senior director of victim support at the AARP Fraud Watch Network, for a look at the dangers of romance scams. Learn her must-know advice on staying safe, including red flags to watch for and what to do if you or a loved one has become a victim.
Watch Happy Money Episode 8 here or listen on Spotify, Amazon Music and Apple Podcasts.
Tune into Episode 8 right here! ‘Love, Lies & Lost Money: How to Spot a Romance Scam Before It’s Too Late!’
What you need to know about romance scams
Being the victim of a scam can be devastating—and romance scams in particular can leave you feeling vulnerable. While you may be seeking a connection, these bad actors are just looking to take advantage of empathetic people like you right from the start.
“The criminals will target anyone,” explains Nofziger. “They don’t care who you are, how old you are, but what they really want is a person with money.”
She also points out that intelligence has nothing to do with falling victim to a romance scam. “It has to do with emotional vulnerability,” she says. “Maybe at the time that criminal reached out, they weren’t in a good emotional spot, and the criminal was able to manipulate that.”
How romance scams begin
Romance scams can take many different forms, but all of them start online or via a text message. You may meet the scammer on a dating app, social media or even a networking website like LinkedIn.
“You get a message on LinkedIn and it says, ‘Hey, Amy, you know, I’ve followed your career. I have a lot of admiration for what you do. I’m a young student. Would you mind mentoring me?’” she shares. “So they might hit at someone’s ego on that.”
Out of the kindness of your heart, you respond to the message and begin building rapport online. The bad actor will spend a lot of time getting to know you so you feel both seen and heard.
“When they feel like that moment is right, when that emotional vulnerability is right, that’s when they’ll have their crisis,” reveals Nofziger. “That’s when they’ll encourage you to invest in cryptocurrency.”
That’s why it’s so important to exercise caution when talking to strangers online. Though some may be perfectly kind people, others are simply showcasing friendly behavior to reel you into a criminal plot.
“What I like to say is, anytime you enter one of these spaces anywhere online, assume the criminal is there online waiting for you,” she warns. “Know that they might not be who they say they are.”
6 red flags of an online romance scam to never ignore
Knowledge is power when it comes to romance scams. Here are the most common red flags Nofziger says to watch for when connecting with someone online.
1. Requests that don’t feel right
“If anybody that you have met online asks you for money or personal information (like Social Security number or credit card number) or encourages you to invest in cryptocurrency, stop right there,” she shares.
Other criminals may even go so far as to ask for intimate photos. This too can be dangerous, even if it may seem like it’s just part of a back-and-forth flirtation.
“What’s happening is the criminals are saving those pictures,” she warns.” So when the victim either comes out of the ether and realizes that this person is nothing but a scammer or they stop sending them money, whatever it is, then the criminal will use that photo as blackmail.”
Though the bad actors rarely ask for sensitive photos or information right away, know that it will happen eventually. Unfortunately, this is part of the romance scams playbook.
2. Lovebombing
Another warning sign is when scammers show a lot of affection in their messages early on in the relationship. Often it can be intense, even if you initially welcome it.
“Constantly texting you, constantly checking in on you,” says Nofziger. “[They’ll say], ‘Have you eaten today? Are you taking care of yourself today?’ But that just feeds into what we’re looking for: someone to kind of take care of us and pay attention to us.”
3. Pressure to change communication methods
Whether you start talking on a dating app or a social media site like Facebook, you’ll typically be asked to move your conversation to an encrypted app.
“The criminals will quickly want you to get off of the platform that you’re on,” she adds.
4. Insistence on keeping things a secret
It’s normal not to want to share everything about a relationship with others, but if the person you’re talking to doesn’t want you to tell anyone about them, that should raise alarm bells.
“If you’re in a relationship with someone you have met online and they have asked you for money, they’ve asked you to keep it a secret or they’ve asked you to lie to friends and family, you’re 100 percent in a scam,” says Nofziger.
5. They claim the money is for someone else
Financial requests are a major part of these scams, but it’s rare for the criminal to ask you to send them money on their behalf. In most cases, they’ll claim it’s for one of their close friends or relatives. For example, the criminal may say that you should invest in cryptocurrency with one of his friends, and then you can use the money you earn to buy a house together.
In reality, this is done to maintain a level of trust between you and the scammer.
“You think, ‘Well, he’s not taking the money from me,’” she shares.
6. A celebrity or their ‘manager’ reaches out to you
If someone claiming to be a celebrity—or their manager or employee—starts up a chat with you, stop the conversation immediately.
“No celebrity is reaching out to a fan through a DM—and they’re certainly not going to be asking you for money, personal information or for cryptocurrency,” asserts Nofziger.
What to do if you’ve been targeted by a romance scammer
If you believe you are caught up in a romance scam, trust your instincts! Nofziger says it’s crucial to listen to your gut and stop talking to the other person right away.
Your next step? Talk to a friend, family member or the experts at AARP’s Fraud Watch Network Helpline, who will walk you through the next steps.
“You need to bring someone into this conversation because scammers thrive on silence, and you don’t want to be silent about this,” encourages Nofziger. “Don’t be afraid to speak up. And if you talk to your friends, it’s guaranteed someone knows somebody who’s probably had the same thing happen to them.”
Finally, report the scam immediately—especially if the scammer stole money or information from you. Local law enforcement is your best bet, but it’s also smart to report it to the Internet Crime Complaint Center.
How to help a loved one who’s been targeted
Victims aren’t the only ones who can feel helpless when they are targeted in a romance scam—family members may struggle with the news, as well. That feeling is amplified if a loved one has yet to realize or accept that they are being exploited by a scammer.
That’s why Nofziger suggests keeping the lines of communication open with the victim and encouraging them to share more about their relationship. In fact, you’ll want to avoid using the word “scam” at all when discussing the situation.
“Don’t, right off the bat, say that’s a scammer because on the other side, he’s going to say, ‘I told you they weren’t going to believe. They’re just jealous of you,’” she adds. “Always lead every conversation with kindness and empathy.”
Another step that might help: Have the victim keep a log on paper of promises made and promises kept within their relationship. Seeing the pattern in black and white can help them recognize that something isn’t right.
Resources for victims: Helplines, support groups and recovery
Know that if you’ve been victimized in a romance scam, you aren’t alone—and there are resources out there to help you. Nofziger suggests you start by calling the AARP Fraud Watch Network helpline at 877-908-3360 for a personalized action plan.
AARP offers support groups as well, so you can go through recovery with others who have been in your shoes. A representative can provide you with more information if you are interested.
You can also get help as a victim of fraud through the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Give an Hour nonprofit group, which focuses on mental health. If you are in need of crisis support, please text SIGNS to 741741 or dial 988.
Remember: “Love should be fun and exciting,” says Nofziger. If something feels off, trust that instinct. You have the awareness, the resources and the strength to protect yourself and find the genuine connection you’re seeking.
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This story was originally published February 24, 2026 at 10:00 AM.