The U.S. Department of Justice issued a public alert ahead of Valentine’s Day, warning that romance scammers are increasingly targeting cryptocurrency users, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio. Authorities cautioned that fraudsters are exploiting online relationships to solicit crypto payments.
In its advisory, the DOJ emphasized that scammers often build trust over weeks or months before persuading victims to transfer digital assets under the guise of investment opportunities or urgent financial needs. The agency stressed that once cryptocurrency is sent, it is typically irreversible, making recovery difficult. Officials warned that these schemes frequently involve requests for payments in Bitcoin or other digital currencies, capitalizing on the speed and pseudonymous nature of blockchain transactions. The alert is particularly timely as Valentine’s Day approaches, a period when online dating activity tends to rise.
The DOJ urged the public to remain vigilant, avoid sending crypto to individuals met online, and report suspicious activity to law enforcement. Authorities also encouraged victims to come forward promptly to improve investigative outcomes. Further updates may follow as federal agencies continue tracking and prosecuting romance-related crypto fraud cases.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice.
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