🚩 Common First Contact Messages From Romance Scammers

The Flattery Approach

* “Hello beautiful.”

* “Hi handsome.”

* “Your smile caught my eye.”

* “You seem like a kind person.”

* “I couldn’t help noticing your profile.”

* “You have such beautiful eyes.”

The Casual Conversation Starter

* “Hi, how are you today?”

* “How was your day?”

* “Hope you’re having a wonderful day.”

* “Can we be friends?”

* “I would love to get to know you.”

The Profile Comment

* “I loved your post.”

* “Your profile stood out to me.”

* “You seem different from everyone else.”

* “You look like someone I could trust.”

* “We seem to have a lot in common.”

The ‘Wrong Number’ Scam Opener

* “Hi Susan, are we still meeting today?”

* “Is this Jennifer?”

* “Sorry, I think I saved the wrong number.”

* “Oops, wrong person. But you seem nice!” 

The Fast-Track Romance Opener

* “I’ve been looking for someone like you.”

* “I feel we have a special connection.”

* “I believe everything happens for a reason.”

* “I think fate brought us together.” 

⚠️ What These Messages Have In Common

* They are usually generic and reusable.

* They often contain quick compliments.

* They rarely mention anything specific about your profile.

* Their purpose is not romance—it is to identify people willing to respond.

* Once you reply, many scammers try to move the conversation to WhatsApp, Telegram, Google Chat, or another private messaging platform. 

🛡️ SHU Takeaway

The first message is rarely the scam. The scam begins after you reply.

Scammers cast a wide net with simple greetings and compliments. Their goal is to start a conversation, build trust, create emotional attachment, and eventually ask for money, gifts, cryptocurrency, or personal information. 

STOP • THINK • VERIFY

A friendly message from a stranger is not proof of a scam—but it is a reason to slow down, verify who you’re talking to, and stay alert. 🛡️❤️

If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact us.

#ScamHatersUnited #ScamEducation  #StopThinkVerify

 Why Do Romance Scammers Seem So Heartless?

💔 They see money, not people.

💔 They emotionally distance themselves from their victims.

💔 They justify their actions to avoid guilt.

💔 They focus on profit, not consequences.

💔 They use manipulation as a tool.

💔 They rarely witness the devastation they cause.

The damage from a romance scam goes far beyond money. Victims may lose savings, retirement funds, homes, relationships, and trust in others.

Many victims experience severe emotional trauma, including anxiety, depression, shame, and isolation. Some struggle so deeply after discovering the deception that they require professional mental health support. Tragically, there have been cases where victims have died by suicide following the financial and emotional devastation caused by romance fraud.

A romance scammer’s goal is not love. Their goal is extraction—of your money, trust, personal information, and emotional vulnerability.

🚩 If someone who claims to love you keeps asking for money, gift cards, cryptocurrency, or financial help, stop, think, and verify.

If you or someone you know is struggling after a scam, seek support. Recovery is possible, and help is available.

If you have any questions, please feel red to contact us.

#RomanceScam #ScamAwareness #OnlineSafety #FraudPrevention #ScamHatersUnited #StopThinkVerify #RomanceFraud #FraudAwareness #ScamEducation #MentalHealthMatters

 Story time and warning by Christopher David/TeamDavid72...

All of his accounts are verified. You are NOT talking to him. He is not dating you, your aunt, or your grandmother. He does not have any backup accounts, fan accounts, or management accounts. He does not have a VIP card. He is not on any chat apps. Please use common sense.

☑️Please stop talking to strangers.

☑️Do not send money to anyone you do not personally know..

☑️Be safe. Be aware

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.

#ScamHatersUnited #ScamAwareness #RomanceScamAwareness

Alan Pietruszewski

Alan Pietruszewski

🚨 SCAM WARNING:

For over a decade, scammers have stolen the photos of Alan Pietruszewski, a former U.S. Navy Commander, TOPGUN graduate and actor, to create fake profiles and deceive victims through romance scams. Alan is NOT looking for online relationships and does NOT ask anyone for money, gifts or financial assistance. Different names. Different stories. The same stolen identity. ⛔ If someone contacts you using his photos, STOP, REPORT and BLOCK. 💡 Be smart on the internet. ✋ Don't become the next victim. 🚨 Stay alert. 💔 Protect your heart. 💸 Protect your wallet.

 Tyler Thomas points out various ways to check a TikTok profile to see if it is fake. He is asking if you see the fakes, please block them.

The second slide Tyler explains how to do a reverse image search on Google.

Please learn how to do your research before you chat. Better yet, stop talking to strangers. Remember anyone can learn how to do a search.

Only YOU can protect YOURSELF from romance fraud.

We can help you do a reverse image search. Please feel free to contact us if you need assistance or have any questions.

#ScamHatersUnited #ScamAwareness #FakeAccounts

 🚨 ROMANCE FRAUD IS A CRIME. REPORT IT. 🚨

If you have been targeted by a romance scammer, DON’T JUST BLOCK THEM AND WALK AWAY.

REPORT THEM TO LAW ENFORCEMENT.

Your report could help connect victims, identify criminal networks, trace financial accounts and provide evidence for future investigations.

🌍 WHERE TO REPORT:

🇺🇸 USA — FBI IC3

🇬🇧 England, Wales & Northern Ireland — Report Fraud

🏴 Scotland — Police Scotland

🇨🇦 Canada — Local Police / Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre

🇦🇺 Australia — ReportCyber

🇳🇿 New Zealand — New Zealand Police

🇮🇪 Ireland — An Garda Síochána

🇸🇬 Singapore — Singapore Police Force

🇭🇰 Hong Kong — Hong Kong Police Force

Elsewhere: report to your national/local police or official cybercrime authority.

⚠️ THE CRIMINALS BEING OVERSEAS IS NOT A REASON TO STAY SILENT.

Save the evidence.

Make the report.

Get a report/reference number.

Keep a copy of everything you submit.

Even if you believe the money is gone, REPORT THE CRIME.

Even if you think your loss is too small, REPORT THE CRIME.

Even if you think law enforcement already knows about these criminals, REPORT THE CRIME.

Fraud networks depend on victims disappearing quietly.

DON’T GIVE THEM THAT ADVANTAGE.

📢 REPORT IT. DOCUMENT IT. MAKE ROMANCE FRAUD COUNT IN THE CRIME STATISTICS.

Every report adds intelligence.

Every report creates a record.

Every report could help connect another victim to the same criminals.

SILENCE HIDES THE SCALE OF ROMANCE FRAUD.

REPORT IT.

— ScamHaters United

If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact us.

 Please listen to Wild Bill Country...

🚨 SCAM ALERT — WILD BILL COUNTRY 🚨

Please be aware that fake accounts are using my name, pictures, and music to impersonate me. They may approach you about romantic relationships, try to sell you albums, or even pretend to be my manager.

❤️ HERE'S HOW TO FIND MY REAL PAGE:

Tap the little profile circle on this video to go directly to my TikTok profile. Check my followers, total likes, and the ARTIST PAGE label.

My official TikTok account is @WildBillAICountry.

Please don't send money to anyone claiming to be me without independently verifying who they are.

These scammers can be convincing. Please stay vigilant, share this warning, and help protect one another. ❤️

Much love,

Wild Bill Country

If you have any questions, Please feel free to contact us.

#WildBillCountry #FakeAccounts #TikTokScams #OnlineSafety #ScamHatersUnited

 As our much-loved founder...Ruth's ashes are laid to rest today, next to her mum. We have found one last video that has not been published yet.

Her legacy will continue on through her admins, SHU Family, and friends. Please listen as she talks about celebrity scams. Celebrity scams are very common. So please, if a celebrity reaches out to you in any way, on social media, it will never be the real celebrity. A real celebrity will not reach out to you on their verified accounts. Their family or management team will never reach out. Always do your research. We can help you with that. Learn how to be safe on social media. Only YOU can protect YOURSELF against romance fraud. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.

 Public Service Announcement.....Christopher David

All of his social media accounts are verified. He will never ask you to contact him. He does not have any management that will contact you.

Scammers are out of control. Stay safe on social media.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.

 Dustin and Sandy talk about military romance scams.

Do your research on military regulations. What the military pays for. Meals, housing, medical care, etc.

Learn what to look for in a fake account. Be safe on social media.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.

 Please listen to Dustin as he talks about the red flags.

Know who you are talking to. Get the proof, know the truth.

The fight against Romance Fraud has never been more intense and it is world wide.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.

 Please listen to Op Dr Erkan Yildirim........

" Dikkat! Sahte Hesaplara İnanmayın!

Son yıllarda adımıza günde yüzlerce sahte hesap açılıyor. Bu hesaplar; para talep ediyor, sahte mesajlar atıyor, hatta duygusal manipülasyonla insanları kandırıyor.

Tek gerçek hesabımız, şu anda bulunduğunuz hesaptır.

Bizim başka hiçbir hesabımız yoktur.

Kimseye mesaj atmayız, para istemeyiz, özel konuşma talebinde bulunmayız. Lütfen dikkatli olun.

Warning! Don’t Trust Fake Accounts!

In recent years, hundreds of fake accounts have been created in our name every day. These accounts demand money, send fake messages, and even deceive people through emotional manipulation.

The only real account we have is the one you are currently viewing.

We do not have any other accounts.

We do not send messages to anyone, we do not ask for money, and we do not request private conversations. Please be careful.

¡Atención! ¡No creas en las cuentas falsas!

En los últimos años se han creado cientos de cuentas falsas a nuestro nombre cada día. Estas cuentas solicitan dinero, envían mensajes falsos e incluso engañan a las personas mediante manipulación emocional.

Nuestra única cuenta real es la que está viendo ahora mismo.

No tenemos ninguna otra cuenta.

No enviamos mensajes a nadie, no solicitamos dinero ni pedimos conversaciones privadas. Por favor, tenga cuidado.

Atenção! Não acredite em contas falsas!

Nos últimos anos, centenas de contas falsas são abertas em nosso nome todos os dias. Essas contas solicitam dinheiro, enviam mensagens falsas e até mesmo enganam as pessoas com manipulação emocional.

Nossa única conta verdadeira é a conta em que você está agora.

Não temos nenhuma outra conta.

Não enviamos mensagens a ninguém, não solicitamos dinheiro e não pedimos conversas privadas. Por favor, tenha cuidado."

He is a very busy doctor. His office spends too much time with all of the messages about scammers using his stolen identity. Remember, he is a victim too. Please leave him alone.

Please learn to be safe on social media. Only YOU can protect YOURSELF against online romance fraud.

If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact us.

 Please listen to Brandon Cade.

His images are used by scammers. He has a ( Verified) Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. He is not on any chat apps. He will not ask for any type of money.

Learn to be safe on social media. Do your research before talking to any strangers, better yet do not talk to strangers.

Only YOU can protect YOURSELF from being scammed.

If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact us.

 ⚠️ THE SAME PHOTOS DO NOT MEAN THE SAME SCAMMER

We often see comments such as:

“He is at it again.”

“He has another profile.”

“He is using a different name now.”

But there is something very important everyone needs to understand about romance scams.

One set of stolen photos can be used by MANY scammers at the same time.

When scammers steal someone’s photographs, those pictures can be copied, shared, sold, exchanged and reused over and over again.

That means the same face may appear on dozens—or potentially hundreds—of fake profiles, operated by completely different scammers in different places.

The person in the photographs is NOT the scammer simply because their face keeps appearing.

Think of it as four separate things:

THE REAL PERSON — the innocent person whose photographs were stolen.

THE FAKE IDENTITY — the invented name, occupation, location and life story attached to those photographs.

THE FAKE ACCOUNT — the Facebook, Instagram, dating-site or other account being used.

THE SCAMMER — the person, or sometimes group of people, actually operating the account.

These are NOT the same thing.

One scammer might use those photos and call himself “David.”

Another completely unrelated scammer could use exactly the same photos and call himself “Michael.”

A third might use them as “James,” with an entirely different story.

They can even use similar scripts and excuses because scam material is copied and reused too.

So when you find another fake profile using the same man’s photographs, it does not automatically mean:

❌ “He is back.”

❌ “He changed his name.”

❌ “He has another account.”

❌ “He is scamming again.”

Unless there is evidence connecting the operators, we simply don’t know whether it is the same scammer.

A much more accurate statement is:

✅ “These stolen photos are being used in scams again.”

Words matter.

Saying “he is at it again” can also unintentionally accuse the innocent person pictured—the very person whose identity and photographs are being abused.

A FACE IS NOT A SCAMMER.

Photos identify the person photographed.

They do not identify the person sitting behind the fake account.

ScamHaters United — educating, exposing and helping people understand how scams really work.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.

 🚨 SCAM ALERT: RECOVERY SCAMS AFTER ROMANCE SCAMS 🚨

Losing money to a romance scam can be devastating. Unfortunately, the scam may not end when the fake romance ends.

Victims are often targeted again.

These are called recovery scams.

After someone has lost money, they may be contacted by people claiming to be:

• Fund recovery agents

• Investigators or private detectives

• Hackers or cryptocurrency experts

• Lawyers or law enforcement representatives

• Banks or financial investigators

• Government agencies

• Organizations that help scam victims

They may say:

“We found your stolen money.”

“We traced your cryptocurrency.”

“We can recover everything you lost.”

“We arrested the scammer.”

“Your money is waiting to be released.”

Then comes the catch.

They need a fee.

A processing fee.

A tax.

A cryptocurrency payment.

A legal fee.

A wallet activation fee.

A “refundable” deposit.

Whatever they call it, the purpose is the same:

TO GET MORE MONEY FROM THE VICTIM.

⚠️ SCAMMERS ALSO IMPERSONATE SCAMHATERS UNITED

There are fake websites, social media accounts, pages and profiles using the ScamHaters United name, photographs, logos or reputation to make themselves appear legitimate.

A familiar or trusted name does not prove that the person contacting you is really associated with that organization.

Do not trust an account simply because it says “ScamHaters United.”

Do not trust screenshots, testimonials, recovery certificates or photographs of supposed recovered funds.

Do not send money or cryptocurrency to someone claiming they can recover your losses.

And be especially suspicious of anyone who contacts you unexpectedly and says they already know about your scam or have located your money.

🚩 REMEMBER:

If you have already been scammed, your information may be circulated among criminals. They know you have lost money. They know you desperately want it back.

That makes recovery scams particularly cruel — and sometimes very convincing.

Do not let the promise of getting your money back become the beginning of another scam.

Before responding to anyone claiming to represent ScamHaters United, verify that you are communicating with the genuine organization through its established official social media presence.

Please share this warning.

Someone who has just escaped a romance scam may be searching for help right now — and the next scammer may already be waiting for them.

SCAMHATERS UNITED

Education. Awareness. Prevention.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.

 Another warning from John J Irwin/JohnnyBleu072

He warns about fake accounts almost monthly, but no one will listen.

He does not randomly contact strangers on social media. He is happily married. He is not on any chat apps. He will not ask for any type of money.

Please stop talking to strangers who randomly contact you. Please stop trying to get the attention of someone you do not personally know, this is what scammers like and will take advantage of the situation.

Please listen to loved ones who try to tell you that you are in a scam.

Only YOU can protect YOURSELF from romance scams.

If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact us.

 Live Chat with Dustin and Sandy

Mostly talking about contacting the real person in the photos and when it crosses over to harassment.

If you need assistance or have any questions, please feel free to contact us.

 Please listen to Ceaser Smith:

PLEASE BE AWARE

I am currently working with police and other relevant authorities regarding fake accounts and scammers impersonating me.

I DO NOT HAVE TELEGRAM.

I DO NOT USE WHATSAPP TO SPEAK TO FANS OR FOLLOWERS.

If someone is claiming to be me on Telegram or WhatsApp, IT IS NOT ME.

These scammers WILL tell you not to believe this message. They’ll make excuses, create stories and give you reasons to keep talking to them.

DON’T.

If I am not speaking to you directly through this verified Instagram account, you are NOT speaking to me.

I will NEVER ask you for money, gift cards, transfers or financial help.

And please, if you know a friend, family member or someone online who believes they are speaking to me, SHOW THEM THIS MESSAGE.

Let them know. Send this to them. They may genuinely believe the person they’re talking to is me, and this warning could stop them from losing money or being hurt.

Please look out for each other. If it’s not this account, it’s not me.

If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact ScamHaters United.

 Romance scammers often use coercive control, not just deception, to make victims easier to manipulate. The relationship may be fake, but the psychological pressure and resulting harm can be very real.

For ScamHaters United, some of the clearest tactics to educate people about are:

* Isolation: They gradually discourage contact with friends and family, especially anyone questioning the relationship. “They’re jealous of us” or “Don’t tell anyone—they won’t understand.”

* Constant contact and monitoring: Morning-to-night messages can initially feel romantic. Later, the scammer may demand to know where the victim is, why they didn’t answer, or who they were with.

* Creating emotional dependency: Love bombing, pet names, promises of marriage and talk of a shared future can make the scammer seem like the victim’s primary source of affection and reassurance.

* Testing compliance: Requests may begin small—keep something secret, download an app, receive a package, open an account—and escalate once the victim becomes accustomed to complying.

* Punishment and withdrawal: When the victim refuses money or questions inconsistencies, affection can suddenly disappear. The scammer may become angry, cold, accusatory or threaten to end the relationship.

* Guilt and obligation: “If you really loved me, you’d help.” “After everything we’ve been through, how can you abandon me?” Money is reframed as proof of love.

* Manufactured emergencies: Illness, arrests, customs problems, frozen accounts, business crises and travel problems create urgency. The victim is pressured to act emotionally rather than stop and verify.

* Gaslighting: When confronted with contradictions, scammers may deny what happened, change the story or accuse the victim of being distrustful. Over time, this can undermine confidence in the victim’s own judgment.

* Fear and intimidation: Once scammers possess intimate photos, financial information or personal secrets, some move from romance fraud into threats or blackmail.

* Intermittent reinforcement: Affection, conflict, crisis and reconciliation can form a powerful cycle. After frightening or upsetting the victim, the scammer becomes loving again—strengthening the victim’s hope that the earlier relationship has returned.

A particularly important educational point is that the financial request isn’t necessarily the beginning of the scam. By the time substantial money is requested, weeks or months may have been spent establishing attachment, secrecy, obligation and compliance.

That also explains why telling someone, “Obviously it’s a scam—just block them,” may not work. You’re asking them not only to recognize fraud but to break away from a relationship in which someone has deliberately manipulated their emotions, trust and decision-making.

For public awareness messaging, a useful distinction is:

Love bombing creates attachment.

Isolation removes competing voices.

Crisis creates urgency.

Guilt creates obligation.

Control makes saying “no” harder.

Then the scammer asks for money.

And an important message for families is: don’t ridicule the person being targeted. Shame can drive someone further toward the scammer and make the scammer’s claim that “everyone is against us” more convincing. Calmly preserving contact and helping verify claims independently is generally much more constructive.

If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact us. 

ChatGBT/SHU

 #ScamHatersUnited #ScamAwareness #scameducation