Bad Valentine: Dating Scams Cost Americans $343 Million in 2021
Scammers are having a grand time during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the past year, scam calls cost Americans $30 billion. Social media scams alone cost people $770 million last year. And then there are the dating scams.
In 2020, online dating scams rose 50% from the year before for $304 million in losses. In 2021, that number rose again, to $343 million in the US—and that's just in the first three quarters of the year. With data for Q4 still coming in, the final number could be around $500 million.
AtlasVPN analyzed figures from the FTC's website and found that the losses for six out of seven age groups increased in 2021, without the numbers for the full year even available yet.
Those in the 40 to 49 and 70 to 79 age groups each saw a $20 million increase in losses, to $56 million and $60 million, respectively, the biggest increases between 2020 and 2021. Those aged 60 to 69 saw the biggest losses overall at $84 million, though that was down slightly from $89 million in 2020.
The losses that young people suffered are on the lower end of the spectrum, though their numbers are up. Those 20 to 29 lost $18 million (up from $10 million), and those 30 to 39 lost $39 million in 2021 (up from $26 million). Those 80 years old and over continue to see the lowest losses, with just $10 million stolen this past year, up slightly from $9 million in 2020.
Protect your heart and your savings: If an online love interest asks you to send money, that's a serious red flag.
Sign up for What's New Now to get our top stories delivered to your inbox every morning.
This newsletter may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. Subscribing to a newsletter indicates your consent to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe from
Read more on pcmag.com
