Romance Scam Protection: 25 Tips for Safer Dating This Valentine’s Day ❤️‍🛡️

As Valentine’s Day (14 February) gets closer, scammers often take advantage of people looking for companionship. Whether you're dating online, meeting someone new, or navigating a growing relationship, your safety comes first. Here are 25 powerful, practical tips to help protect yourself, your loved ones, and your community from romance fraud.

1. Trust your instincts

If something feels off, pause. Healthy relationships never pressure, rush or confuse you.

2. Keep your personal info private

Don’t share your full address, finances, or workplace details early on.

3. Never send money or gift cards

A genuine partner will never ask.

4. Slow down the pace

Scammers often push for intense emotional connection quickly.

5. Meet in public places

Always choose a well‑lit, busy location for first meetings.

6. Tell someone where you’re going

Share your location with a trusted person when meeting someone new.

7. Turn on smart tags/GPS location safety tools

Use Find My, Google Location Sharing, AirTag, SmartTags, or similar tech for extra peace of mind.

8. Keep drinks safe with anti‑spike scrunchies or covers

Simple tools can reduce the risk of drink tampering.

9. Video chat before meeting

Helps confirm they are who they claim to be.

10. Check for inconsistencies

Stories that keep changing are a major red flag.

11. Reverse-image search profile photos

Scammers often use stolen images.

12. Be cautious with overly perfect profiles

Too good to be true usually is.

13. Avoid sending intimate images

Scammers may use these to extort victims later (sextortion).

14. Don’t share passwords or logins

Your accounts are private—no exceptions.

15. Watch for requests for secrecy

Healthy relationships don’t require hiding things from family or friends.

16. Protect your devices

Use strong passwords, 2FA, and secure apps.

17. Be careful with social media

Limit what strangers can see via privacy settings.

18. Meet at your own pace

No one should pressure you into meeting sooner than you're comfortable with.

19. Keep money and romance separate

Scammers often claim emergencies, business opportunities, or medical issues.

20. Watch how they handle boundaries

A respectful person accepts ‘no’ without complaint.

21. Listen for emotional manipulation

Love‑bombing, guilt‑tripping or rushing commitment are warning signs.

22. Check their digital footprint

A real person usually has natural‑looking social media activity.

23. Don’t be embarrassed to ask for help

Scammers are highly trained—this is not your fault.

24. Report suspicious activity

Report to:

25. Look after yourself afterwards

If something felt wrong or uncomfortable, reach out to someone you trust. Your wellbeing matters.

We want every member of our community to feel safe and supported.

If you have concerns or want advice, reach out. You're never alone.