Rockford BBB Warns Of Nasty Valentine’s Day Romance Scams

Valentine's Day 2026 is this coming Saturday, in case it's slipped your attention.

The day is supposed to be about flowers, chocolate, and maybe finding someone who laughs at your bad jokes (that may be just me).

Instead, it’s become hunting season for some of the lowest human beings walking the planet, also known as romance scammers. With that in mind, the Rockford Regional Office Of The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is sounding the alarm that artificial intelligence (AI) is now helping these creeps create fake photos, fake websites, and fake personalities that look convincingly real.

And the damage is brutal. The BBB says victims lose an average of $2,000, but the financial hit is only half the story. The real wound is embarrassment and heartbreak, because people who thought they’d found a partner ended up discovering they were just a scam artist's mark.

Most Romance Scams Start With Stolen Photos And Faked Profiles

That “perfect match” you found claims to live far away or be overseas for work or military duty. They'll try to quickly push the conversation to private email or chat, then they'll shower the victim with attention for weeks or months, even sending small gifts to make the fantasy feel real, and slowly build up trust.

Then comes the ambush.

They'll bring up an emergency that requires money. A sick relative, a business problem, a ticket home, troubles with the law. The promises to pay it back are complete lies. Once you send the first bit of money, they won't stop hitting you up for more.

Dennis Horton, Senior Director of the Rockford BBB:

Seeking romance online can have significant emotional and economic downsides. Cyberspace is full of scammers eager to take advantage of people looking for love. Along with asking for money, the other major tip-off to the rip-off is scammers always make excuses why they can’t ever meet in person and usually refuse even a video meeting because profiles they use online are completely fabricated.

Here's How To Avoid A Romance Scam

The BBB’s advice is blunt and worth repeating: research any dating site on BBB.org, run reverse image searches on profile photos, ask detailed questions, and never, ever send money to someone you haven’t met face to face. Wire transfers and prepaid cards are basically gift-wrapped cash for criminals that you'll never get back.

These predators deserve jail cells. If you encounter one, report it to BBB Scam Tracker so their next target doesn’t get taken to the cleaners.