Someone you know met a person online a few weeks ago. Maybe it's a parent. Maybe it's a friend. Maybe it's you. He or she seems kind. They ask thoughtful questions. They remember details from the last conversation. They haven't asked for anything yet.

That's the point. They're not supposed to ask yet.

Romance scams were on the rise last year, according to new FTC data released this week. Reported losses increased by 22% to $1.48 billion, which comes to a staggering $2,020 per person. Romance scammers play the long game. They build a relationship over time, then one day, the conversation turns to money, and they offer to help you invest yours. But they're not in it to help you. They're in it to rip you off.

Mother's Day weekend is one of the busiest times of year for romance scammers. Loneliness spikes around holidays. That's not an accident. They know exactly when to show up.

The ask, when it finally comes, will sound reasonable. A temporary financial hardship. A stranded investment. A plane ticket to finally come visit. And by then, the relationship feels real enough that saying no feels wrong.

The rule: If someone you've only met online asks for money, the answer is no. It doesn't matter how long you've been talking.

The FTC releases its top scam report every year. And for nine years in a row, the answer has been the same.

Imposter scams were the number one scam for the ninth year in a row. In 2025, the FTC received more than 1 million reports about imposter scams, with reported losses increasing by nearly 20% to $3.5 billion. Reports of government imposter scams were up 40%, thanks in part to messages about overdue tolls.

Nine years. The same category. Every single time.

That tells you something important. These scams keep working because they keep finding people who haven't been warned yet. Your parents. Your neighbors. Anyone who hasn't had someone sit down with them and say: this is exactly what it looks like.

That's what this newsletter exists to do. And it's why forwarding this issue to one person you care about this week matters more than you might think.

The rule: If someone contacts you out of nowhere and wants something, verify them independently before you engage with anything they ask.

Source: FTC Consumer Alert, May 7, 2026

This one ran all weekend.

Scammers set up fake online flower shops every Mother's Day, promote them through social media ads with prices just low enough to feel like a deal, and collect payment from people who never receive anything. The website looks completely legitimate. There are photos, reviews, and a checkout process that works perfectly.

The flowers just never come.

In some cases the order does arrive, but what shows up is a wilted bunch of gas station carnations in a plastic bag, nothing like the arrangement in the photo.

The red flags are the same ones we see every week. The deal is slightly too good. The website has no verifiable address or phone number. The reviews are generic and undated. And the payment goes through immediately with no confirmation email that looks real.

The rule: Before buying from any online shop you found through a social media ad, search the store name plus "scam" or "complaint" first. Thirty seconds of research can save a ruined Sunday morning.

Here's how it usually starts. A message on Facebook, a dating app, or even a text to a wrong number.

"Hi, I hope you don't mind me reaching out. I came across your profile and felt compelled to say hello. You seem like a genuinely kind person. How has your day been?"

It's warm. It's low pressure. It doesn't ask for anything.

Over the next few weeks, the conversation deepens. They share details about their life. They remember yours. They call when they say they will. They're patient.

Then one day, almost as an afterthought, they mention an investment opportunity. They've done very well with it. They'd love to show you how it works.

Investment scams caused the biggest reported losses of scams initiated on social media, with $1.1 billion lost. These scams often started with a friendly advisor or a WhatsApp group full of successful investors sharing glowing but fake testimonials. People created accounts, saw fake profits, and maybe even withdrew a small amount to build trust. But there was never any real investment. FTC Consumer Advice

That small early withdrawal is the detail that hooks people. It feels like proof. It isn't.

The rule: If someone you've never met in person steers the conversation toward investing, stop and call someone you trust before you take another step.