Romance Scam Losses Increase 21.8% in 2025, Australian National Anti-Scam Centre Reports
The Australian National Anti-Scam Centre has released its final quarter statistics for 2025 ahead of Valentine’s Day, revealing a sharp rise in romance scam reports and losses.
Romance scams remain among the most financially and emotionally damaging crimes in Australia. Between January and December 2025, Scamwatch, a scam-reporting service operated by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), received reports of more than $28.6 million in losses, a 21.8% increase compared to the previous year. A total of 1,330 Australians fell victim, with more than 80% of financial harm linked to online contact through social media, dating platforms, and online forums.
ACCC Acting Chair Catriona Lowe said, “Romance scammers operate all year round, but the lead up to Valentine’s Day is a good time to have a heart-to-heart with loved ones and build awareness of how these scams work so we can help people better protect themselves and others”.
Broader Scam Trends
The broader picture of scams in 2025 shows Australians lost a total of $334.9 million, a 5% increase from 2024. While 200,675 people reported scams, a 19.6% decrease, 28,202 individuals reported losing money. The median loss fell by 20%, from $500 in 2024 to $400 in 2025.
Investment scams accounted for the largest share of losses at $172.2 million, followed by phishing scams at $31.1 million and romance scams at $28.7 million. Shopping scams were the most common, with 12,248 people reporting financial losses. Online scams conducted through social media, websites, and apps caused double the financial harm of any other category, with $158.5 million lost.
ACCC highlighted the romance scammer’s playbook, which typically begins with creating a fast emotional bond. Scammers often present themselves as attentive and affectionate, mirroring interests and values to build trust. They then move conversations off dating apps or social media to private messaging platforms, making detection harder.
Victims are usually given reasons why in-person meetings cannot happen, such as overseas work or military service. Financial requests follow, starting small and escalating to cover emergencies, investments, travel, gifts, cryptocurrency, or gift cards. Scammers frequently apply pressure, create urgency, and discourage victims from discussing the relationship with friends or family, insisting the connection is private or special.
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