Why Do Romance Scammers Say “Age Is Just a Number”?

Many victims hear this phrase early in an online relationship and assume it is a sincere compliment. In reality, “age is just a number” is one of the most common stock phrases used by romance scammers. It often appears regardless of the actual ages involved.

What Is the Scammer Trying to Achieve?

❤️ Keep Older Targets Engaged

* Romance scammers often seek people who may have established careers, savings, pensions, investments, or property.

* By saying age does not matter, they encourage older targets to continue the conversation instead of questioning the relationship.

❤️ Distract From an Obvious Mismatch

* Many scammers use stolen or AI-generated photos of younger, attractive people.

* The phrase is designed to stop the victim from focusing on why a much younger person appears interested in them.

❤️ Create Instant Emotional Connection

* It is often part of a larger love-bombing strategy.

* The scammer may combine it with statements such as:

    * “I have never felt this way before.”

    * “You are my soulmate.”

    * “God brought us together.”

    * “True love knows no age.”

* These messages are meant to make the victim feel uniquely chosen and valued.

❤️ Lower Defenses

* The phrase subtly encourages the victim to ignore doubts and focus on emotions instead of facts.

* Once emotional attachment forms, the victim may become less likely to question inconsistencies.

❤️ It Is Often Scripted

* Many romance scammers work from shared scripts and templates.

* The same phrases appear repeatedly across unrelated scams.

* Some scammers will use “age is just a number” even when there is little or no age difference because it is simply part of their routine.

The Bigger Picture

The phrase is usually not about romance at all.

It is a grooming tool designed to:

* Keep the conversation going.

* Reduce skepticism.

* Build emotional attachment quickly.

* Encourage the victim to overlook red flags.

ScamHaters United Reminder

🚩 “Age is just a number” can be a compliment—but in online romance scams, it is often a strategy.

Before investing your heart, time, or money:

✅ Verify the person’s identity.

✅ Have live video calls.

✅ Reverse-image search profile photos.

✅ Watch for love-bombing and rushed commitment.

✅ Never send money, gift cards, cryptocurrency, or financial information.

✅ Listen when trusted family and friends raise concerns.

Remember: Age may be just a number, but verification is not. Genuine people welcome transparency. Romance scammers depend on trust without proof.

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

 Warnings of ones to watch......

ROBERTO C.

He is an avid runner and has a love for cars. He does not randomly contact strangers on social media. He is not looking for a relationship. He will not ask for money, cards, or bitcoin.

If you are talking to someone using these photos, you will not be talking to Roberto.

Only YOU can protect YOURSELF on social media. Be social media aware. Be social media smart.

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

DR. TUFAN ERGENÇ

 🚨 SCAM WARNING: 

DR. TUFAN ERGENÇ

DR. TUFAN ERGENÇ’S IDENTITY IS BEING STOLEN BY CRIMINALS AND USED IN ONLINE ROMANCE SCAMS.

Dr. Tufan Ergenç is a Turkish bariatric surgeon based in Izmir, Turkey.

He specializes in laparoscopic weight-loss surgery, including sleeve gastrectomy, and has over 20 years of medical experience.

Scammers are stealing his photos and using them to create fake profiles and deceive people online.

Scammers are using Dr. Tufan Ergenç’s stolen photos to create fake profiles on dating sites and social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and X.

They also use messaging apps such as WhatsApp, Messenger and Telegram to contact potential victims.

👉 No real, genuine doctor would ever send random friend requests to people online. 🙅🏻‍♀️

Dr. Tufan Ergenç is happily married and has three children.

👉 He is NOT looking for online relationships.

👉 He is NOT on dating sites.

👉 He does NOT contact anyone privately to start romantic relationships.

👉 He does NOT need or ask for money, gifts, financial assistance or personal favours.

⛔ If someone contacts you using his photos, you are NOT talking to Dr. Tufan Ergenç. You are talking to a scammer using his stolen identity!

🚨 DO NOT BECOME THE NEXT VICTIM!

If someone contacts you using Dr. Tufan Ergenç’s photos:

👉 Do NOT accept their friend or follow request.

👉 Do NOT reply or continue chatting.

👉 Do NOT move the conversation to WhatsApp, Telegram or another messaging app.

👉 NEVER send money, gift cards or personal information.

🚫 REPORT AND BLOCK THE FAKE ACCOUNT!

🚨 Stay alert.

💔 Protect your heart.

💸 Protect your wallet.

 🚩 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.