Safety guide · By Single 60s

How to spot a romance scam

The signs are nearly always the same. Once you know them, they are hard to miss.

What is a romance scam, and how can you tell?

A romance scam is someone faking affection to get your money. The clearest signs: they want to leave the dating site quickly, can never video call, claim a job overseas, then face a sudden emergency and ask for money, gift cards, crypto or an "investment". If anyone you haven't met asks for money, stop replying and report them.

Scammers are patient. They may write every day for weeks, remember your grandchildren's names and send long, warm messages before money is ever mentioned. That's the point: by the time the request comes, it feels like helping someone you care about. Being taken in says nothing about your intelligence. These people do this for a living. If you're wondering whether a dating site itself is trustworthy, our look at whether Single 60s is legit answers that.

What are the warning signs of a romance scam?

One sign alone can be innocent. Two or three together should make you very wary.

They want to move off the site fast

Within days they suggest a messaging app, a personal email or a text conversation. Away from the dating site there's no moderation, no report button and no record the site can review. On Single 60s you'll see a warning when someone tries to take the chat elsewhere.

They can never quite video call

The camera is broken, the connection is poor, they're on a ship, they're shy. A real person who's interested in you will find a way to say hello on screen. Someone using stolen photos cannot.

Their job keeps them far away

A contractor on an oil rig, an engineer on a project overseas, a doctor with an aid agency, a soldier on deployment. These stories explain why they can't meet and why they might soon need help with money.

Things move very quickly

Declarations of love within a week or two, talk of marriage or of moving in, pet names from the first message.

An emergency arrives

A medical bill, a customs fee, a frozen bank account, a ticket home they can't afford. It's always urgent, and always something only you can fix.

They ask for money in an unusual form

Gift cards, a wire transfer, crypto, or cash sent through a friend. Or the softer version: a "can't lose" investment tip, a trading platform they'll show you how to use, a chance to make your savings grow. All of these are hard to trace and nearly impossible to get back.

What should you do if you think someone is scamming you?

Stop sending anything. No more money, cards, codes or bank details, however the request is framed.
Don't confront them. Scammers often have a ready answer, and arguing just keeps you talking.
Report and block them on the site. Use the report button on their profile, then block them so they can't contact you.
Call your bank straight away if you've paid anything or shared card details. The sooner they know, the better the chance of stopping a payment.
Tell the police. Fraud is a crime, and reporting it helps even when money can't be recovered.
Talk to someone you trust. A friend or relative can help with the calls, and saying it out loud takes away much of the shame.

Keep the messages, usernames and payment receipts. Your bank and the police will want them. When you do meet someone genuine, our first date ideas keep that first meeting public and easy, and the rest of our guides cover profiles, pace and more.

How does Single 60s help protect you?

No site can promise to stop every bad actor, but these protections make life harder for them:

photos and profile text are screened as they're uploaded, by AI and a human reviewer
AI behavior monitoring that looks out for suspicious activity
free ID verification and video verification with a moderator, so genuine members carry a Verified badge
a warning when someone tries to move your conversation to another app
instant blocking and a report button inside the site, backed by 24/7 human support
usernames instead of real names, and only your nearest town or city on show

The safety page explains each one. A Verified badge is reassuring, but it isn't a reason to send money: the rule holds for everyone.

The rules that never change

Never send money, gift cards or crypto to someone you haven't met.
Keep conversations on the site until you've talked by phone or video.
No video call, no meeting: treat it as a warning.
Report first, then block, then call your bank if money has gone.

Scam questions

What if they only ask for a small amount?

Small requests are often a test. If you send a little, a bigger emergency tends to follow. The answer is still no.

I've already sent money. Is it too late?

No. Call your bank today, report the profile on the site, and tell the police. Then stop all contact, even if they promise to repay you.

Does a Verified badge mean someone is safe?

It means their identity was checked. It doesn't tell you their intentions, so the rules about money and meeting still apply.

Meet real people, carefully

Single 60s is for adults 18+. Joining is free, and ID verification costs nothing either.

Join free