TL;DR: The Australian Federal Police shared two romance scam cases: a man in his 60s who lost up to $800,000 after taking out a further mortgage, and a divorced woman in her 50s who sent over $600,000 overseas in one week, much of it borrowed against her home. Scamwatch logged 3,432 romance scam reports and about $28 million in losses in 2025.
The two cases
In a release from its Joint Policing Cybercrime Coordination Centre, the Australian Federal Police described two victims:
- A divorced woman in her 50s met a man in a chat group who talked of marriage, claimed to be wealthy and sent fake ID photos and videos. After a month he got her to invest in a fake AI app. Within one week she sent more than $600,000 overseas, much of it borrowed against her mortgage. Recovery is unlikely.
- A man in his 60s believed he had been in an online relationship for two years. He paid through banks, remittance services, PayPal and crypto, and was talked into buying a house with a further mortgage. When he tried to get money back he was threatened and given new reasons to pay. His loss was up to $800,000. Police referred a suspected money mule account to authorities in the Philippines.
The 48-hour hook
The AFP says scammers may need as little as 48 hours to hook someone, describing it as a pattern seen across many cases rather than a fixed rule. They contact many people at once, mirror your interests, then push you to WhatsApp or Telegram, away from the dating platform’s safety checks.
How big the problem is
Scamwatch logged 3,432 romance scam reports in 2025, making it the third most reported scam type, with about $28 million lost and 71% of victims first contacted online, the AFP says. People over 55, widowed or recently separated people and retirees are most at risk. See our romance scam statistics for 2026 for other countries.
Red flags the AFP lists
- Pressure to move off the dating or social app soon after you match.
- Love-bombing and oversharing of emotional stories.
- Reasons they cannot meet or video call, or video that looks glitchy or blurry.
- Asking you to keep the relationship secret from family and friends.
Our guide to dating app romance scams covers app-by-app safety, and deepfake fraud statistics explain why video calls are no longer proof.
If you have sent money
Contact your bank immediately and report through ReportCyber; call the Police Assistance Line on 131 444 for non-urgent help. Our guides on reporting to Scamwatch and the Scamwatch and IDCARE recovery process cover what happens next. Scammers find targets through leaked contact details, so run our free digital footprint check for yourself or a parent.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did the two victims lose?
Up to $800,000 for the man in his 60s and more than $600,000 for the woman in her 50s, according to the AFP.
What is the 48-hour romance scam?
The AFP says scammers may hook a victim within about 48 hours, then move the chat to a private app to groom them for money.
How many romance scams were reported in Australia in 2025?
Scamwatch logged 3,432 reports and about $28 million in losses, the AFP says.
Where do I report a romance scam in Australia?
Contact your bank, then report through ReportCyber at cyber.gov.au, or call 131 444. In an emergency call 000.
Sources
- Australian Federal Police: The 48-hour rom-con: how the business of romance scams target heart and wallets (Feb 9, 2026)
- ReportCyber (cyber.gov.au)
- Scamwatch