$672,009,052 Lost to Romance & Sextortion Scams in 2024

The National Picture: $672M in One Year

In 2024, romance and confidence scams cost Americans $672,009,052 according to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). That's not a projection. That's documented loss from 17,910 confirmed complaints. Each victim lost an average of $37,521—enough to drain a savings account, max out credit cards, or sell assets.

The FTC tracked an even broader set of romance scams, reporting $1.14 billion in losses across 64,003 complaints. The gap between FBI and FTC numbers reflects different tracking methods, but both point to the same conclusion: this is not a niche problem.

AI-generated fake intimate images are growing in 2025, making fraud more convincing and victims more vulnerable. Scammers no longer need real photos. They generate them, build fake profiles on dating apps and social media, and use AI deepfakes to escalate the scam from romance to sextortion—demanding money to keep fake images "private."

State-by-State Breakdown: Where the Risk Is Highest

Romance scams hit every state, but some bear the brunt harder than others. California, Texas, and Florida dominate the raw dollar losses. But Nevada and Wyoming show a different story: highest per-capita losses, meaning residents there face disproportionate risk relative to population.

If you live in California, Texas, or Florida, the scale of local losses should signal heightened caution. If you're in Nevada or Wyoming, the per-capita risk means your neighbors are falling for these scams at alarmingly high rates. That's not coincidence—it's where dating app usage, social media activity, and scammer targeting overlap most.

Who Gets Targeted: Demographics of Victims

Romance scams don't discriminate by income, education, or profession. Victims range from college students to retirees, from CEOs to service workers. The FBI reports that scammers actively target older adults, but millennials and Gen X are equally susceptible when they use dating apps during life transitions—divorce, relocation, grief.

The common thread: loneliness, desire for connection, and trust. Scammers exploit these universally human vulnerabilities. They spend weeks building rapport, sharing "personal" details, creating the illusion of intimacy. By the time money is requested, the victim feels they know the person.

Dating apps (Tinder, Bumble, Hinge, Match) and social platforms (Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn) are hunting grounds. Scammers create convincing profiles with AI-generated or stolen photos, match with targets, chat outside the app, and eventually pivot to sextortion or money requests.

The AI Escalation: Deepfakes and Fake Intimate Images Are the New Weapon

The FBI confirms increasing use of AI in fraud schemes. Scammers no longer need to steal real intimate images or videos. They generate them using AI tools, then threaten to share them unless you pay.

A typical scenario: You match with someone attractive on a dating app. After weeks of chatting, they ask for intimate photos. You refuse or comply. Then a message arrives: "I have screenshots and videos of you. I'm going to send them to your contacts unless you wire $5,000 immediately." You panic. The images might be AI-generated fakes you never actually sent, but you won't know.

This is sextortion powered by AI. It's faster, cheaper, and scalable. One scammer can target hundreds of people simultaneously, generating customized threats in minutes. The victim's fear response is immediate. Many pay.

The volume is growing in 2025. As AI image generation tools become cheaper and faster, expect this tactic to explode. The FBI is already tracking it. You need to be able to spot a fake.

How to Protect Yourself: Verify Images Before You Fall

The first defense is skepticism. If someone matches you on a dating app, talks to you for weeks, builds intimacy, and then either asks for money or threatens you with intimate images, pause. This is a known scam pattern.

The second defense is image verification. Before you trust a profile or respond to sextortion threats, check the image. Is it AI-generated or real? Is it a deepfake? Faux Spy makes this instant. Hover over any profile photo on Tinder, Bumble, Hinge, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, or any website. Right-click and select "Check with Faux Spy" (free version gives you 10 checks per day) or get unlimited checks with Faux Spy Pro.

If the image is flagged as AI-generated or marked as "Possible Manipulation," you have your answer. It's a fake profile. Stop communicating. Report the account to the platform.

If someone sends you an "intimate" image as sextortion leverage and claims it's you, verify it. If it's AI-generated, it's not real. You have evidence the threat is false. Screenshot the detection result and report to the FBI IC3 at ic3.gov or your local law enforcement.

What If You've Already Been Targeted: Reporting and Next Steps

If you've been contacted by a scammer or received sextortion threats, you're not alone. Don't be ashamed. These people are professionals at manipulation.

Report to the FBI IC3: Go to ic3.gov and file a complaint. Include all chat logs, profile screenshots, and payment records. The FBI aggregates these reports to track scammer networks and arrest operators.

Report to the platform: If the scammer matched you on Tinder, Bumble, Hinge, Instagram, Facebook, or LinkedIn, report the account for fraud/scam. Provide the same documentation. These platforms have fraud teams that remove malicious profiles and share intelligence with law enforcement.

Do not pay. If you receive a sextortion threat, the instinct to pay is strong. Resist it. Paying confirms your account is active and you can be extorted again. Scammers delete threats they make—they want money, not distribution. Paying only delays the inevitable request for more money.

Do not send additional images or funds. Once contact is established, scammers escalate demands. Each payment invites the next threat.