The FBI issued warnings today from multiple field offices across the country. Romance scams are up, and they're getting harder to spot.

In the San Francisco Bay Area alone, victims lost more than $40 million to romance scams last year. That's nearly double the $22 million reported in 2024. Nationally, the FBI says over 17,900 victims reported losing more than $672 million.

And those are just the ones who reported it. Many don't, because they're embarrassed or still can't believe it happened.

Here's how it works: Someone contacts you through a dating app, Facebook, or even a random text message. They're charming. Attentive. They say all the right things. They want to talk every day. They fall for you fast.

But they can never meet in person. They're working overseas, deployed with the military, or stuck in some other situation that keeps them just out of reach.

Then comes the ask. An emergency. A business deal gone wrong. An investment opportunity they want to share with you. They need money, and they need it now.

The red flags:

They refuse to video chat or always have an excuse. They declare love quickly, sometimes within days. They ask you to move the conversation off the dating app to WhatsApp or Telegram. They bring up money, crypto, or "investment opportunities." They ask you to keep the relationship secret from friends and family.

What the FBI says to do:

Never send money to someone you haven't met in person. Research their photos with a reverse image search. Go slowly and ask lots of questions. Talk to someone you trust about the relationship before sending anything.

Here's what's changed. Scammers are now using AI to make their schemes more believable.

Voice cloning software can copy someone's voice from just a few seconds of audio. That means a scammer can sound like your grandchild, your friend, or anyone whose voice they can find online.

AI chatbots can maintain conversations for weeks, remembering details and responding in ways that feel personal. The "person" you're talking to might be a bot 90% of the time, with a human stepping in only when things get serious.

Deepfake video is now good enough to fake a video call. A short video chat no longer proves someone is real.

The old advice about watching for bad grammar and spelling errors? It doesn't work as well anymore. AI tools can clean that up in seconds.

The new rule is simple: If you've never met someone in person, don't send them money. For any reason. Ever. And make sure you and your family determine a “safe word” when you’re in person with each other - something that no one else would know so if you get an urgent video or call, and it looks or sounds like your loved one, you will know if it’s real or not.

Searching for a last-minute gift online? Be careful where you shop.

Security researchers say more than 1,000 new fake shopping sites pop up every day. Many of them target people looking for deals on jewelry, clothing, and other gifts.

These sites look professional. The checkout process works. You get a confirmation email. But then nothing arrives. Or you get a cheap knockoff. Or worse, they steal your credit card info.

How to spot a fake shop:

The prices are too good to be true. The domain name is slightly off or was registered recently. There's no phone number, physical address, or real customer service contact. Reviews are either missing or look fake. They only accept unusual payment methods like wire transfers, crypto, or gift cards.

Stick to stores you know and trust. If you find a new site through a social media ad, do some research before you buy. Search the store name plus "scam" or "reviews" and see what comes up.

Have you noticed those Bitcoin ATM machines popping up in gas stations and grocery stores? Scammers have noticed them too.

The FBI says Americans lost $333 million to Bitcoin ATM scams in 2025. That's up from $250 million the year before. And more than 85% of victims were over 60.

Here's how it works: Someone calls claiming to be from your bank, the IRS, or law enforcement. They say your account has been compromised or you owe money. They create panic. Then they tell you to withdraw cash and deposit it into a Bitcoin ATM to "protect" it or pay what you owe.

Once you feed that cash into the machine and scan their QR code, the money goes straight to the scammer's crypto wallet. It's gone. There's no way to get it back.

The Arizona Attorney General just issued a warning about this last week: "If you're being directed to use a crypto ATM, there's a very high chance you're being scammed."

The rule: No legitimate business, bank, or government agency will ever ask you to pay them through a Bitcoin ATM. Ever. If someone tells you to do this, hang up immediately.