Romance Scams Are Now the #1 Scam in America

If one of your goals for 2026 is to find a real relationship, this video is for you. Dating apps and websites are now used by tens of millions of Americans — but they’ve also become a prime target for scammers who exploit trust, emotion, and personal data. This is not a “technology is bad” video. It’s about how bad people sometimes use technology to exploit others — and what you can do to reduce your risk while still using dating apps to find a meaningful relationship. In this video, I cover: • How common dating apps are today — and why that matters • How romance scams have evolved and grown more sophisticated • Why romance-initiated scams now cost Americans billions of dollars per year • How scammers use emotional manipulation, fake identities, and even AI • Practical steps you can take to protect your identity, photos, and personal data • Red flags to watch for when talking to someone online • Why you should never send money to someone you haven’t met in person My goal is simple: ? I want you to feel empowered — not frightened. ? Key takeaway Protecting your privacy early gives you time to get to know someone before sharing your real identity. If you want to support my work brining you high quality, informative videos, I invite you to buy me a coffee at https://coff.ee/businessreform ⸻ ? Related videos & resources • How to remove your personal data from people-search websites • How facial recognition databases work — and how to opt out • More videos in my Dating App Privacy & Safety playlist (linked at the end) ⸻ ? About this channel I’m Dr. Jon Padfield — an engineer turned state representative turned business professor. This is Business Reform, where Business, Technology, and Society intersect. ⸻ ? Join the conversation What has your experience been with dating apps? Do you have other tips for staying safe while dating online? I read the comments. If you use social media, please follow me on Instagram and TikTok. I do not use these platforms myself for social media but I have an assistant who is posting my videos there to help me reach a broader audience. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/businessreformofficial/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@businessreform?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc Links to the sources I used in this video... https://www.webdesignmuseum.org/gallery/match-com-2000 https://ssrs.com/insights/the-public-and-online-dating-in-2024/ https://www.naplesnews.com/story/news/2025/03/05/fbi-aarp-ftc-warn-people-about-romance-scams/81164946007/ https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndoh/pr/ghanaian-national-charged-running-romance-scams-took-over-8-million-elderly-victims https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/what-know-about-romance-scams https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/scams-and-safety/common-frauds-and-scams/romance-scams https://anonyome.com/individuals/mysudo/ https://moneywise.com/news/montana-woman-says-she-lost-90k-in-online-romance-hoax