4 min read
How to spot a romance scam
Romance scammers follow a script. Learn the warning signs before anyone asks you for money.
01They move fast
Scammers often declare strong feelings within days and push to move the conversation off the dating app to private messaging.
02They can never meet or video chat
Excuses pile up: a broken camera, overseas work, a military posting. Real people make time to talk face to face.
03A crisis appears
A sudden medical bill, a customs fee or a stranded-at-the-airport story usually comes next, followed by a request for help.
04They ask for money, crypto or gift cards
No genuine match needs you to send money, buy gift cards, invest in crypto or share bank details. This is the clearest sign of a scam.
05What Riven does
Every Riven member verifies a government ID and a live face scan, and our chat warns you when a message mentions money, crypto, gift cards or outside links.
06What you should do
Stop replying, do not send anything, and report the profile. Reporting also blocks them. If you have lost money, contact your bank and report it at reportfraud.ftc.gov.