Consumer Banking
Swipe Safely: Help Protect Yourself from Romance Scams
Chase Bank is issuing a warning to consumers about the rise in romance scams as Valentine’s Day approaches. Fraudsters often exploit emotions and trust to steal money and personal information from unsuspecting victims.
Americans lost $1.14 billion to romance scams in 2023 according to the Federal Trade Commission. Scammers use dating apps, social media, and email to build fake relationships and request money under false pretenses.
Chase recommends the following precautions to help avoid becoming a victim of romance scams:
- Don’t engage online with those you don’t know. Limit social media connections to people you know and avoid individuals reluctant to meet in person. Don’t answer questions about personal finances and protect your privacy and safety by blocking texts and calls from strangers.
- Verify the identity of who you are speaking with. Online dating scams are common, and it’s important to do your due diligence. If someone has few photos on their profile, and refuses video calls or in‑person meetings, be cautious about sharing personal information.
- Don’t send money. Never send money to someone you’ve only met online or by phone—whether through bank transfers, peer-to-peer payment apps, wire transfers, cryptocurrency, or gift cards. These methods are hard to trace and easy for scammers to exploit. Likewise, don’t open accounts, add anyone to your accounts, or start a business on someone else’s behalf.
- Don’t be persuaded by urgency. If someone moves too fast or showers you with intense affection early on, pause and consider why. Rapid escalation can be a tactic to manipulate you emotionally or financially.
If you do get scammed, file a police report or submit an inquiry to the FTC at ftc.gov/complaint.
Take advantage of the resources Chase offers online. Visit Chase.com/security to learn more.
About Chase
Chase is the U.S. consumer and commercial banking business of JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM), a leading financial services firm based in the United States of America with operations worldwide, assets of $4.4 trillion and $362 billion in stockholders’ equity as of December 31, 2025. Chase serves more than 86 million consumers and 7.4 million small businesses with a broad range of financial services, including personal banking, credit cards, mortgages, auto financing, investment advice, small business loans and payment processing. Customers can choose how and where they want to bank: more than 5,000 branches in 48 states and the District of Columbia, nearly 15,000 ATMs, mobile, online and by phone. For more information, go to chase.com.
Media Contact:
Emma Eatman, emma.eatman@chase.com