PRESS RELEASE Many people believe that romance scams are the most embarrassing kind of fraud to fall for. The identity theft protection service has commissioned a new survey. According to NordProtect, 55% of Americans who have lost money to romance scams think that falling for other kinds of scams is less embarrassing than falling for romance scams.

Furthermore, nearly one-fifth of the victims chose not to report the incident at all. "Romance scams are especially successful because con artists take advantage of fundamental human needs and weaknesses while using particular tactics, such as establishing emotional dependence and trust, exploiting loneliness, hope, and the need for companionship. When victims grow attached to someone else only to have their self-esteem and dignity destroyed instead, a sense of shame arises.

Even monetary loss may not always be as significant in this situation, according to Tomas Sinicki, managing director of NordProtect. Related: You Might Be Misled by Those "Summarize With AI" Buttons Who needs to be particularly watchful? Although 15% of respondents said they had lost money to romance scams, men were almost twice as likely as women to have fallen victim to these scams: 19% of male respondents fell victim to a romance scam, compared to only 11% of female respondents.

False social media personas are typically used in romance scam attacks. According to research, only 55% of women identified fraudulent accounts when seeking romantic relationships, compared to 71% of men. Additionally, 75% of men in the 35–44 age range saw phony profiles on online dating services.

This implies that romance scammers are more likely to target men, particularly those in this particular age range. Money lost and unconcerned The fact that victims of romance scams not only hesitate to discuss their experiences but also neglect to notify the appropriate authorities about the incidents—up to 19% of victims did not report the incidents—is another concerning indicator. Furthermore, compared to victims who lost more than $2,000, the percentage of victims who tend to underreport romance scams is even higher among those who lost smaller sums, reaching 26%.

Since most victims of romance scams prioritize emotional harm over monetary loss, reporting these crimes is crucial because it improves prevention and safeguards others, according to Sinicki. However, the survey also reveals that victims are unsure of the precise location for incident reporting. Reports of romance scams were most frequently made to local police (21%), family and friends (26%), and banks or credit card issuers (27%).

Related: The Actual Networks of TransUnion Experts advise reporting romance scam incidents to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) (only 16% of cases are currently reported there), the Federal Trade Commission (9%), financial institutions and credit card issuers, dating platforms or social media channels (19%), and local police. The deal focuses on blocking robocalls. Techniques NordProtect commissioned Cint to conduct the survey, which was carried out from January 14–24, 2026.

Internet users in the United States between the ages of 18 and 65 were the survey's target demographic. There were 2,078 responders. Age, gender, and place of residence were all subject to quotas. About NordProtect NordProtect is an all-inclusive identity theft protection service that is intended to safeguard users' identities.

Features like credit activity tracking, security alerts, and round-the-clock dark web monitoring allow users to stay aware of possible threats and take immediate protective measures. In addition, NordProtect assists users in obtaining financial assistance and professional support in the event that they become victims of online fraud, cyber extortion, or identity theft. Visit www.nordprotect.com to learn more.