Catfishing, or romance scams, are deeply harmful: Here's how to spot the red flags
General warning describes financial/emotional harm and suicide association, not a documented individual death.
Prevention & supportData from The GDELT Project · Reviewed and interpreted by RSRC
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Find reporting by topic, place or language. Open a record to see why it was included and what the available evidence supports.
Matching coverage over time
The chart uses every search filter above and all matching records, across every results page. The percentage denominator is all included URLs in the same dates, before theme, language, country or text filters.
Distinct included URLs matching these filters in each observation month. Select a point to explore its records. On small screens, scroll the chart horizontally.
A URL counts once per month and can appear in several months or themes. Themes describe the current record assessment; months show URL observations, not when events or each claim first appeared. Warnings, allegations and reported experiences are all included when coded. Partial months, collection gaps and changes in sources affect both measures. A higher share does not establish a higher risk to victims.
Read the graph as a table
| Observation month | Matching URLs | All included URLs | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 2025 | 352 | 591 | 59.6% |
| Feb 2025 | 489 | 1,629 | 30.0% |
| Mar 2025 | 209 | 561 | 37.3% |
| Apr 2025 | 162 | 390 | 41.5% |
| May 2025 | 232 | 398 | 58.3% |
| Jun 2025 | 86 | 209 | 41.1% |
| Jul 2025 | 272 | 522 | 52.1% |
| Aug 2025 | 253 | 447 | 56.6% |
| Sep 2025 | 273 | 613 | 44.5% |
| Oct 2025 | 251 | 483 | 52.0% |
| Nov 2025 | 174 | 392 | 44.4% |
| Dec 2025 | 200 | 333 | 60.1% |
| Jan 2026 | 222 | 530 | 41.9% |
| Feb 2026 | 447 | 1,106 | 40.4% |
| Mar 2026 | 175 | 360 | 48.6% |
| Apr 2026 | 239 | 491 | 48.7% |
| May 2026 | 171 | 785 | 21.8% |
| Jun 2026 | 214 | 842 | 25.4% |
| Jul 2026 | 469 | 1,143 | 41.0% |
| Aug 2026 | 319 | 640 | 49.8% |
| Sep 2026 | 373 | 638 | 58.5% |
| Oct 2026 | 17 | 30 | 56.7% |
5,536 matching media records
Each record represents a source web page, not a verified incident. Different URLs can describe the same event. About these records.
華裔美籍男開口借手術費 台中女遇假網戀險遭詐15萬 | 社會 | 中央社 CNA
Taichung woman nearly sends USD5,000 for supposed Chinese-American boyfriend family surgery; bank and police stop payment. Persona nationality is not victim location.
Reported caseThai police raid luxury condo, arrest six Nigerians over romance scams
Six suspects arrested in Nonthaburi alleged network using false romantic profiles to induce payments.
Reported caseApa Itu Pig Butchering? Modus Scam Internasional di Solo Baru, Raup Rp 41 M dalam 10 Bulan
SoloBaru network described as fake love and bogus crypto, Rp41bn overtenmonths inheadline.
Reported case華裔美籍男開口借手術費 台中女遇假網戀險遭詐15萬 | 社會 | 中央社 CNA
Taichung woman nearly sends USD5,000 for supposed Chinese-American boyfriend family surgery; bank and police stop payment. Persona nationality is not victim location.
Reported caseSindikat Pig Butchering Terbongkar di Solo, Modus Asmara Palsu Kuras Korban hingga Rp41 Miliar - Tribunjateng.com
Police report disrupting a Solo-Sukoharjo network involving false romance; overlapping reports are not new incidents.
Reported case£2.25m lost to romance fraud in Somerset last year as cases rise sharply
Reported Avon and Somerset romance-fraud losses exceed GBP2.25 million for the previous year; media figure, not independently verified individual losses.
Research & trends女子收22万彩礼后扔结婚证拉黑丈夫 ，将彩礼挥霍至2万余元，涉嫌骗婚被抓捕_新闻频道_中华网
Qionghai police report alleged deceptive marriage for CNY220,000bride price while concealing existing partner; suspect arrested, not convicted.
Reported case詐欺被害額、３千億円超で確定 ２５年の特殊・ＳＮＳ型｜全国のニュース｜Web東奥
Japan finalized combined 2025 fraud losses and category comparisons; clipped romance count must not be completed by inference.
Research & trends【速報】昨年特殊、SNS詐欺被害3千億円超で確定
Headline reports combined 2025 special/SNS fraud losses exceeding JPY300 billion; the clipped description includes romance fraud.
Research & trendsPareja de ancianos, hallada muerta en California, habría caído en estafa romántica
California elderly couple found dead after alleged actor-impersonation romance payments; metadata does not establish homicide, suicide or causation.
Reported caseKasus Pig Butchering di Solo-Sukoharjo, Kerugian Capai Rp41 Miliar
Central Java alleged romance/fake-crypto network reports Rp41bn,38suspects and133victims; aggregate network claims not unique independently verified victims.
Reported case詐欺被害額、３千億円超で確定／２５年の特殊・ＳＮＳ型 | 四国新聞社
Japan police finalize2025 loss totals for special, SNS investment and romance fraud together. JPY325.74bn is a mixed-fraud total, not romance-only.
Research & trends詐欺被害額、３千億円超で確定／２５年の特殊・ＳＮＳ型 | 四国新聞社
Japan police finalize2025 loss totals for special, SNS investment and romance fraud together. JPY325.74bn is a mixed-fraud total, not romance-only.
Research & trends詐欺被害額、3千億円超で確定 25年の特殊・SNS型
Japan police report JPY325.74 billion combined 2025 losses across special, SNS investment and romance fraud; not romance-only.
Research & trends詐欺被害額、３千億円超で確定 | 中国新聞デジタル
Japan police report JPY325.74 billion combined 2025 losses across special, SNS investment and romance fraud; not romance-only.
Research & trends詐欺被害額、３千億円超で確定｜北日本新聞webunプラス
Japan police report JPY325.74 billion combined 2025 losses across special, SNS investment and romance fraud; not romance-only.
Research & trends詐欺被害額、3千億円超で確定 25年の特殊・SNS型
Japan police report JPY325.74 billion combined 2025 losses across special, SNS investment and romance fraud; not romance-only.
Research & trendsPolice reveal how much money was lost to romance fraud in North Wales last year
Police report refers to North Wales romance-fraud losses in 2025; no amount in saved metadata.
Research & trendsPolisi Bongkar Sindikat Love Scamming di Jateng, Ratusan Korban Tertipu Total Rp 41 Miliar
Central Java police report relationship-building network and Rp41 billion aggregate losses; not an independently verified count of victims.
Reported case柬埔寨園區業績「掛蛋」花40萬贖身 彰化男回台慘了 - 社會 - 自由時報電子報
Huang joined Cambodian false-dating/investment operation in2024; six-month sentence reported. Father paidTWD400,000for release after zero scam proceeds; payment is not target loss.
Reported case「她」的噓寒問暖竟是圈套 男子提鉅款險落愛情詐騙陷 | 蕃新聞
Kaohsiung Nanzih police report bank warning over a man seeking a loan in an alleged romance scam. Clipping does not prove completed loss or final interception.
Reported case6旬婦遭網戀詐騙 欲保單貸款26萬救「烏克蘭醫生」 - 社會 - 自由時報電子報
Kaohsiung woman60 attemptsTWD260,000insurance-policy loan for supposed detained Ukrainian doctor; insurer/police prevent transfer. Ukraine is the false persona location.
Reported case6旬婦遭網戀詐騙 欲保單貸款26萬救「烏克蘭醫生」 - 高雄市 - 自由時報電子報
Kaohsiung woman60 attemptsTWD260,000insurance-policy loan for supposed detained Ukrainian doctor; insurer/police prevent transfer. Ukraine is the false persona location.
Reported caseNigerian Extradited to U.S. for Romance Fraud, Money Laundering
Ugberaese is accused of obtaining funds through online romance deception and was reportedly extradited to the US; laundering remains an allegation.
Reported case