What the report found
The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) released its 2025 Annual Report in April 2026, drawing on more than one million complaints, the highest number the agency has ever logged. Buried in the broader numbers is a specific, sharp increase. Romance scams targeting older adults rose 30% year over year, and phishing and spoofing scams against people aged 60 and older rose more than 100%.
The mechanics of a romance scam are consistent. A scammer builds a relationship, often over weeks or months, through a dating app, social media, or even a “wrong number” text that turns into an ongoing conversation. Once real trust and emotional investment are established, the requests for money begin. They’re usually framed around a crisis the scammer can’t handle alone, like a medical emergency, a stuck shipment, or travel funds to finally meet in person. The report also notes scammers increasingly use AI-generated images, voice cloning, and deepfake video calls to make the fabricated person feel more convincingly real.
Why this isn’t really about being fooled by technology
It’s tempting to read this as a story about people falling for fake photos or a cloned voice. The more accurate read, and the harder one, is that scammers are specifically targeting the isolation itself, not just the lack of technical savvy. Older adults living alone, recently widowed, or with a shrinking social circle are disproportionately targeted. That’s precisely because sustained attention from someone who seems to care is exactly what’s often missing, and exactly what makes the eventual request harder to question.
The practical takeaway
The single most protective habit, according to the FBI’s own guidance, is simple. Never send money, gift cards, or cryptocurrency to someone you haven’t met in person, no matter how long you’ve been talking or how real the relationship feels. A second layer works well in families too. Agree that any request for money from an online relationship gets discussed with a trusted family member or friend before acting, not after. If you or someone you know may already be involved in one, report it at IC3.gov. Reintroducing simple discussion of the topic within families, casually and without judgment, tends to matter more here than any technical fix.
The FBI notes these numbers are very likely an undercount, since embarrassment is one of the most commonly cited reasons victims never report romance scams at all.
Reference
Federal Bureau of Investigation, Internet Crime Complaint Center, “2025 Internet Crime Report.” https://www.ic3.gov/AnnualReport/Reports/2025_IC3Report.pdf
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