Salem – As people celebrate Valentine’s Day and look for love online, the Oregon Division of Financial Regulation (DFR) is warning consumers to be on guard against romance scams and so-called “relationship investment scams,” a fast-growing form of fraud that blends emotional manipulation with fake investment opportunities.
Relationship investment scams are a recent and particularly damaging type of romance fraud, causing reported losses in the billions. According to the Federal Trade Commission, consumers reported $12.5 billion in investment-related scam losses in 2024, a figure that has tripled in just three years. In the North American Securities Administrators Association’s (NASAA) annual survey of top investor threats, romance and affinity scams consistently rank among the most serious risks facing communities nationwide. The good news is awareness works, and sharing information can help protect the people you care about most.
“This Valentine’s Day, make sure Cupid is aiming for your heart and not your wallet,” said TK Keen, administrator of DFR, a division of the Department of Consumer and Business Services. “Romance and relationship investment scams prey on trust and emotion, often leaving victims with devastating financial losses. If someone you meet online starts talking about investments, promises easy money, or pressures you to act quickly, that’s a clear warning sign. Love should never come with a request for money, and checking DFR’s website before investing can help stop a scam before it breaks both your heart and your bank account.”…