Relationship Investment Scams
Weeks or months of friendship or romance, then an 'opportunity' on a crypto or trading platform. How relationship investment scams work, and why they are so hard to see from inside.
Relationship investment scams combine the patience of a romance scam with the mechanics of a fake investment platform. The scammer never asks for money for themselves. Instead, they help you "invest", and the platform does the rest.
The stages
- Contact: a wrong-number message, a dating match or a social media follow. See wrong-number messages.
- Friendship or romance: daily chats over weeks or months.
- Lifestyle signals: comfortable travel, meals and a successful career.
- The introduction: a relative or mentor who trades, and an offer to teach you.
- The platform: small wins, then larger deposits. See fake exchanges.
- The extraction: taxes or fees to withdraw. See withdrawal fees.
Why it is hard to see
By the time money is mentioned, the relationship feels real, and doubting the platform feels like doubting the person. See why smart people fall for scams.
Separate the person from the platform. Check the platform with a regulator before depositing, however much you trust the person.
Related: romance investment scams and helping someone in a romance scam. For more, see investment and crypto scams.
Frequently asked questions
Why do these scams take so long?
The long build-up creates genuine-feeling trust, so the investment suggestion feels like advice from someone who cares.
Are the people behind them always individuals?
Many are run by organised groups, sometimes using workers who are themselves coerced. The person you talk to may be following a script.
How do I talk to a friend who is caught up in one?
Stay calm and non-judgemental, ask gentle questions about the platform and the person, and suggest checking the platform with a regulator together.
Sources
- What To Know About Romance Scams, US Federal Trade Commission
- What To Know About Cryptocurrency and Scams, US Federal Trade Commission
- Investment Scams, US Federal Trade Commission
