Romance scams are a growing threat in our digital world. Scammers prey on vulnerable people looking for love and connection online, gaining their trust before asking for money or personal information.
According to the FBI, romance scams cost victims $600 million a year in the United States alone.
The scariest part? Romance scammers are masters of emotional manipulation and deception. They know exactly what to say to make their victims fall for them.
Being able to recognize the language these scammers use is crucial to protecting yourself or your loved ones from falling victim.
This guide will provide 60 specific phrases romance scammers employ, examples of how they’re used, as well as tips to spot scams and stay safe.
Key Phrases Romance Scammers Use
- “I’ve never felt this kind of connection before!”
- “You can tell me anything – I’ll never judge you.”
- “I’m stranded overseas without access to my funds.”
- “If you really cared about me, you’d do this.”
- “Let’s get to know each other better first.”
- “I can’t wait to see you, but some things need to be settled first.”
10 Love Bombing Phrases Used By Romance Scammers
Love bombing is an emotional manipulation tactic where scammers shower new dating targets with over-the-top affection, praise, and promises for the future. This rush of attention makes victims feel dependent on the scam relationship.
Here are 10 love bombing phrases commonly used:
1. “I’ve never felt this kind of connection before!”
Scammers often claim they feel an instant, deep bond unlike any other. This appeals to targets’ longing for true love.
2. “You are my soulmate/twin flame/dream partner.”
Declaring someone a soulmate builds intense emotional intimacy quickly. Victims feel they’ve found “the one” meant for them.
3. “We were destined to find each other.”
This phrase fosters a sense of fate and star-crossed lovers. It makes victims feel it’s meant to be.
4. “You’re the missing piece I’ve waited for.”
Telling victims they complete them emotionally convinces targets they’re a perfect match.
5. “I want to be with you forever.”
Promises of forever sound romantic. But it’s a huge red flag this early from someone you barely know.
6. “I can’t stop thinking about you, my love.”
Constant flattery and terms of endearment suck victims into believing scammers care deeply.
7. “You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
Exaggerated compliments boost victims’ self-esteem. Scammers know this engenders trust and attachment.
8. “I can’t wait to start a family/life together.”
Future faking about marriage and kids triggers targets’ dreams of romantic fulfillment.
9. “You’re so beautiful/handsome – inside and out.”
Appearance flattery plus claims they appreciate inner qualities sound authentic.
10. “I’ve never opened up like this before.”
Confiding feelings makes victims feel special. Scammers pretend it’s because they’re “the one.”
This kind of constant affection bombing is intoxicating but builds unrealistic expectations. When scammers eventually show their true motives, the fantasy crumbles.
10 Phrases Scammers Use to Rush Relationships
Once scammers have love bombed targets, they start accelerating the relationship’s pace. They’ll use phrases like:
1. “I can’t stop thinking about meeting you!”
Early requests to meet sound flattering. But it’s often a scam tactic to progress things quickly.
2. “What are you waiting for? Let’s meet already!”
Scammers pressure reluctant targets, using impatience to override hesitations about meeting.
3. “What do you mean you’re not ready? I thought you liked me!”
Playing the hurt feelings card coerces victims into meeting before they’re comfortable.
4. “If you really cared, you’d make the effort to see me.”
Accusations of not caring manipulate targets into caving to demands.
5. “Don’t you trust our love? We’re meant to be together.”
Twisting soulmate claims convinces targets to ignore red flags.
6. “This distance between us is killing me. I need to see you.”
Exaggerating the struggle of being apart pressures targets to progress the relationship.
7. “What’s the point of falling in love if we can’t enjoy it?”
This phrase frames targets’ caution as preventing happiness.
8. “Life is too short – I need you by my side NOW.”
Faking terminal illness or tragedy creates a false urgency to meet.
9. “Imagine how amazing it will be when we finally meet!”
Dangling the fantasy of an incredible first meeting tricks eager victims.
10. “Our love is so special – we don’t need to wait like normal couples.”
Claiming the relationship is unique removes perceived barriers to meeting quickly.
Rushed relationships prevent proper vetting and oversight. Victims get swept up in the whirlwind.
10 Trust-Building Phrases Scammers Use
Gaining someone’s complete trust is pivotal to romantic scam schemes. Skilled scammers use phrases like these to build faith in the “relationship”:
1. “You can tell me anything – I’ll never judge you.”
Promises of unconditional acceptance open victims up emotionally.
2. “Your secrets are safe with me.”
Assurances of discretion convince targets to confide private details.
3. “I feel like I’ve known you forever.”
Claims of profound connection establish trust quickly.
4. “We understand each other completely.”
Scammers mirror victims’ thoughts and interests to appear like-minded.
5. “Our connection is so deep – I know I can trust you.”
Affirming the depth of the bond disarms victims’ defenses.
6. “I want to share everything with you.”
Pledges to share their life make victims feel prized.
7. “You really get me.”
Validating targets’ personality and quirks builds rapport.
8. “You can always count on me to be here for you.”
Reliability promises cultivate dependency in targets.
9. “I want to protect you – no one will ever hurt you again.”
Vows of protection appeal to people’s vulnerabilities.
10. “I’ve never been more open and honest with anyone.”
Claims of self-disclosure make victims feel chosen.
Master scammers use trust-building as emotional bait before reeling targets in. Victims end up disclosing sensitive info and financial data to people they believe care deeply but actually just want to exploit and steal from them.
10 Common Excuses Scammers Use for Needing Money
Once scammers have built strong rapport, they start planting sob stories and excuses to convince victims to send money:
1. “I’m stranded overseas without access to my funds.”
A classic scam line is needing cash to get home from a trip.
2. “I need to pay legal fees to access my inheritance.”
Pretending they expect a huge windfall is a go-to ploy.
3. “I need to pay my employees but can’t access my business account now.”
Scammers often claim they own companies and need payroll help.
4. “My family member is extremely sick and needs surgery I can’t afford.”
Feigned family medical emergencies play on sympathy.
5. “I’m behind on rent/bills and need help until I get paid.”
Sob stories about overdue payments persuade kind-hearted souls.
6. “I need cash to fix my vehicle registration and get my stranded car home.”
Car troubles are another favorite fabricated money grab.
7. “I desperately need a loan to save my business/home/belongings.”
Appearing in dire straits triggers targets’ rescuer instincts.
8. “I need money to safely get out of the dangerous situation I’m in.”
Damsel-in-distress tales scare victims into helping.
9. “Please help me pay this hospital/IRS/casino debt before they take legal action.”
Threats of dire consequences panic victims into paying scammers’ fictional debts.
10. “I’m selling my valuables just to survive. Will you buy this ring/watch I inherited?”
Scammers pretend hardship to sell worthless items to sympathetic victims.
No matter the cover story, targets feel compelled to help their supposed soulmate in hardship. But in reality, it’s just a scam to steal cash.
10 Phrases Scammers Use for Emotional Manipulation
Charm and flattery easily transition into expert emotional manipulation once scammers have sunk their hooks in. They’ll say things like:
1. “If you really cared about me, you’d do this.”
Accusing someone of not caring coerces them into compliance.
2. “I’ve sacrificed so much for you – how could you say no?”
Framing the situation as one-sided guilt trips victims.
3. “I thought I could depend on you – I guess I was wrong.”
Playing the disappointment card preys on people’s empathy.
4. “After everything we shared, how could you betray me like this?”
Crying betrayal ramps up the emotional stakes.
5. “You’re breaking my heart – I thought you were better than this.”
Shaming statements damage victims’ self-worth.
6. “If you don’t help me, my life will be ruined. How can you do that to me?”
Painting victims as responsible for their downfall is manipulative.
7. “I’ll have nothing left if you abandon me now – have some mercy!”
Portraying targets as cruel or heartless for not helping guilts them.
8. “I made a mistake – please give me another chance to rebuild your trust.”
Scammers reestablish rapport after suspicions arise by pleading for second chances.
9. “I’m devastated you could think I’m deceiving you – don’t you know how much I care?”
Feigning heartbreak makes skeptical targets doubt their instincts.
10. “I thought I’d finally found love, but now I see you’re just like everyone else.”
Turning their backs on victims who catch on re-hooks anyone feeling guilty for suspecting them.
Skilled scammers use emotions strategically, often trauma-bonding with victims and then weaponizing that to exploit them.
10 Phrases Scammers Use to Delay Meeting In-Person
A huge red flag of romance scams is when supposed soulmates avoid actually meeting. Scammers use phrases like these to stall:
1. “Let’s get to know each other better first.”
Putting off meeting for more messaging builds investment and stops early detection.
2. “I need to finish this work project, then I can plan our meeting.”
Vague excuses about being too busy defer in-person interactions.
3. “I can’t wait to see you, but some things need to be settled first.”
Non-specific justification for delays hides the scam.
4. “Be patient – absence makes the heart grow fonder!”
Trying to make waiting sound romantic stops targets from pushing.
5. “My financial problems need to be resolved before we meet.”
Claiming hardship defers meeting until they get money from victims.
6. “I don’t feel emotionally ready yet – give me more time.”
Saying they aren’t ready pressures targets to wait longer.
7. “We have our whole lives – no need to rush this.”
Framing delays as preserving the romance stops urgency.
8. “You’re so special I want our first meeting to be perfect.”
Using high expectations as an obstacle gives plausible deniability.
9. “Trust our connection – we’ll know when the time is right.”
Urging “trust” convinces targets to ignore their gut.
10. “You know my situation won’t allow traveling yet. But someday…”
Vague someday promises strung victims along endlessly.
Scammers lean heavily on emotional manipulation because meeting in person risks exposing them. No matter the excuses, if someone refuses to meet eventually, it’s almost surely a scam.
How to Protect Yourself from Romance Scams
Knowing phrases to watch for is step one. But beyond language, here are crucial tips to avoid being scammed:
A) Learn to Identify Red Flags Early
Spotting scammers fast minimizes your risk. Watch for:
- Love bombing – excessive flattery and demands of affection early on signal manipulation.
- Rushed pace – insisting on quick progression raises safety issues. Healthy relationships take time.
- Inconsistency – frequent mixed messages and unexplained discrepancies suggest scams. Verify via reverse image search.
- Secrecy – dodging questions about their life is shady. Scammers hide details that don’t match their persona.
- Sob stories – trauma and big emergencies early on prey on sympathy. Confirm details instead of blindly believing.
- Isolation – discouraging other relationships isolates victims emotionally and financially.
- Eagerness for financial info – scammers don’t care about you, only money. Requesting financial help early is a huge red flag.
B) Take Action if You Suspect a Romance Scam
If red flags appear, take steps to protect yourself:
- Stop communication – Block them on all platforms immediately to halt further manipulation.
- Talk to trusted friends – scammers isolate targets, so outside perspective from people you trust helps assess if it’s a scam.
- Search their image – conduct a reverse image search using photos. Scammers steal others’ pics.
- Research details – fact check personal details, job info, addresses, phone numbers, etc. Lies suggest a con artist.
- Watch for money requests – Never send money to someone you haven’t met, no matter the claim.
- Contact authorities – Report scammers to the dating site, the FBI, FTC, and police. Getting scammed is nothing to be ashamed of. Speaking up helps prevent others from also being victimized.
Conclusion
Romance scammers are masters of deception, tailoring promises and emotional pleas to exploit victims’ vulnerabilities and dreams of finding love. Now that you know their common tactics, phrases, and tricks you can identify red flags early before heartache and financial loss.
Guard your heart and money against empty words. If something seems too good to be true, it likely is. Prioritize actions over flattery and sweet nothings.
Stay strong against manipulation. Your well-being and financial security depend on discerning romantic suitors’ true motives with wisdom and discernment. Don’t let scammers fool you with the language of love bombing, rushing, and sob stories.
Finally, spread awareness about these scammer phrases and tactics to protect others. Only by supporting each other can we defeat these emotional predators determined to steal joy, money, and trust.
