They won't ask for money immediately. Scammers usually practice at least one virtue: patience. "They don't typically come right out and ask for your money," says Simerly. "Instead, they will spend weeks – or even months – in the pursuit of getting to know their targets while they build trust."

The United States Postal service is warning consumers about romance scams that target people seeking companionship ahead of Valentine’s Day. USPS and the Postal Inspection Service says these schemes involve fraudsters targeting people in hopes of causing serious financial and emotional harm.

As Valentines Day approaches, a warning about looking for love in all the worng places. Scammers could turn to dating websites and apps to target vulnerable individuals and steal their money.

As Valentine’s Day approaches, the FBI Springfield office is cautioning the public to be vigilant about online relationships, warning that not all digital connections are genuine.

To avoid a romance scam, officials urge the public to be cautious of online relationships that progress quickly, look for inconsistencies in both the person's profile and information they share and keep your personal information private.

Ahead of Valentine’s Day, authorities have warned the public against rising online scams targeting people who are looking for love. The Australian Federal Police and Australia’s National Anti-Scam Center,

The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) and U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) urge consumers this Valentine's Day season to be aware of romance scams.