NATIONWIDE — As the calendar turns to 2026, experts are issuing a high-priority warning to older adults: January is officially “peak season” for romance scams.
With the holiday season concluded and the “New Year, New Me” sentiment in full swing, millions of seniors are turning to dating apps and social media to find companionship. However, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) and AARP warn that sophisticated criminal networks are ready to exploit this seasonal wave of loneliness.
Recent data from the FBI reveals that elder fraud is an increasingly expensive epidemic. In the last reporting cycle, Americans over the age of 60 lost over $3.4 billion to various scams—an 11% increase from the previous year. Romance scams alone accounted for hundreds of millions in losses, with the average victim losing approximately $33,915.
Scammers have also evolved their tactics. According to the Saturday Evening Post, 2026 has seen a surge in “industrialized” fraud networks using Generative AI to create deepfake videos and voice clones, making the “person” on the other end of a video call appear alarmingly real.
“Online dating as an older person comes with a whole new set of concerns,” says James Rodgers, Head of Dating at Senior Lovers. “As a more targeted group, the risks include not just financial fraud, but stalking and emotional abuse.”
Expert Safety Tips for 2026
To help seniors and caregivers navigate the digital dating world safely, experts have outlined critical boundaries and verification steps:
1. The Video Call Test (With a Twist)
While video calls were once a “gold standard” for safety, AI face-swapping has made them less reliable. Rodgers suggests asking a potential match to perform a specific, unscripted action during a live video chat—such as holding up three fingers or turning their head slowly side-to-side—which can often “break” a real-time deepfake filter.
2. Beware of “Love Bombing”
If a match declares their undying love within days or even hours, be wary. This tactic, known as “love bombing,” is designed to create an intense emotional bond that makes the victim more likely to overlook red flags later on.
3. Keep Financial Barriers High
Never share bank details, social security numbers, or address information. In 2026, scammers are increasingly moving toward cryptocurrency or gold bars as payment methods because they are harder for banks to track and reverse.
4. The “Public Place” Rule
When transitioning from online to in-person:
- Meet in daylight: Choose a busy café or restaurant.
- Share your location: Use your smartphone to share your live location with a child, friend, or caregiver.
- Screenshot the profile: Send a photo of the person you are meeting to a trusted contact before you leave the house.
Red Flags: When to Block and Report
- The Inconsistent Story: They claim to be a local but can never meet due to a sudden “overseas job” or “medical emergency.”
- The Pivot to WhatsApp: Scammers often try to move you off a dating app (which has monitoring algorithms) and onto encrypted apps like WhatsApp or Telegram.
- The Financial Ask: Any request for money—no matter how small or tragic the story—is a 100% guarantee of a scam.
How to Report a Scam
If you or a loved one has been targeted, experts emphasize that there is no shame in coming forward. You should:
- Stop all contact immediately.
- Report the incident to the FBI at ic3.gov.
- Notify the platform (Tinder, Facebook, Senior Lovers, etc.) so they can ban the fraudulent account.
