All articles · 12 October 2026

Spotting romance scams when you are looking for marriage

People who are sincerely looking for a husband or wife are open and hopeful. Scammers know this. Here is what the authorities say to watch for.

How big the problem is

The US Federal Trade Commission received 64,003 reports of romance scams in 2023. Reported losses totalled $1.14 billion, with a median loss of $2,000 per person: the highest reported losses of any kind of impostor scam.

The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center received more than 19,000 complaints about confidence and romance fraud in 2022, with reported losses of nearly $740 million. These are US figures; many scams are never reported, so the real numbers are likely higher. We could not find comparable published totals for the UAE.

The warning signs

The FTC and the FBI describe the same pattern. A scammer builds closeness quickly, often talking several times a day, and may speak of marriage early. Meeting in person never quite happens: they say they work abroad, on an oil rig, in the military or on a construction project overseas. Then an emergency appears that needs money.

They want to move off the platform quickly, to private messaging or email.
They seem too perfect, or their photos appear elsewhere online under another name.
They always have a reason not to meet or not to video call.
They ask for money for medical bills, a visa, travel, legal fees or a "sure" investment, often in cryptocurrency.
They want payment by wire transfer, gift card codes, a transfer app or crypto, which are hard to get back.
They try to separate you from family and friends, or ask for intimate photos.

What to do

The FTC's rule is simple: never send money or gifts to someone you have not met in person. If something feels wrong, stop contacting the person, talk it over with someone you trust, and search their name, job and photos online. The FBI adds that if you have not met after a few months, you have good reason to be suspicious.

If you have already paid, contact your bank or the payment company straight away and ask whether the payment can be reversed.

Reporting a scam in the UAE

According to Khaleej Times (July 2024), scams can be reported through:

the UAE Public Prosecution's My Safe Society app;
the Ministry of Interior app (with UAE Pass), under eCrime services;
Dubai Police's eCrime service at dubaipolice.gov.ae;
Abu Dhabi Police's Aman service at adpolice.gov.ae.

How Marriage-Ready Society helps

Every member confirms their identity with a photo ID and a live selfie, reviewed by a person, before they can see others or be seen. Chats open only when both people agree, and you can block and report anyone from inside the app. No check is perfect, so the advice above still applies here: never send money to someone you have not met, and tell us if anything feels wrong.

Questions to ask each other

Have you ever been asked for money by someone you met online? What did you do?
At what point would you want to meet in person, and with family involved?
What would make you trust someone you met online?

Want to compare your answers? Try our free five-minute quiz for two: Are we ready?

Sources

These articles share research findings, not personal advice. Studies show patterns across many couples; your situation may differ.

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