Ah, summer. The season of sun-soaked beaches, bucket list adventures, and Instagram-worthy Aperol Spritzes. For many, it’s also a time of new connections—whether it’s a whirlwind vacation romance, a flirtatious chat over sangria, or that handsome stranger who slides into your DMs while you’re posting travel pics.
But while your heart may be on holiday, romance scammers are very much on the job.
Every summer, there’s a spike in cybercrime that preys on people’s heightened emotions, loneliness, and lowered guard while traveling. Romance scams aren’t just the stuff of Netflix documentaries or embarrassing Reddit threads—they’re a multi-billion dollar business. In fact, in the U.S. alone, consumers reported losing $1.3 billion to romance scams in 2023, according to the FTC. And those are just the ones who reported it.
Whether you’re vacationing in Ibiza or just swiping Tinder in Tuscany, here’s what you need to know to keep your love life and your bank account scam-free this summer.
Why Summer Travel Is Peak Romance Scam Season
Let’s break down the perfect storm:
- You’re relaxed, open, and more trusting.
- You’re sharing your location and travel plans publicly.
- You’re looking for connection—romantic or otherwise.
- And you may be unfamiliar with local customs or risks.
Scammers love this combo. It gives them everything they need to make you feel special, disarmed, and emotionally invested—before making their move.
And don’t think these scams are limited to dating apps. They happen on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, WhatsApp, Airbnb experiences, and yes, even LinkedIn. Love (and deception) finds a way.
Classic Romance Scam Red Flags (Even While Abroad)
No matter where you are in the world, these red flags are global. If your new summer fling is showing any of these signs, take a step back before you step deeper in:
They move too fast.
They say they love you after two days. They want to video call all the time. They talk about marriage before you’ve even exchanged last names. Classic sign of love bombing.
They avoid meeting in person or always have a reason to cancel.
Even if you’re in the same city, they’ll say they’re stuck at customs, quarantining, or detained by border patrol (yes, really). This isn’t just shady—it’s scripted.
They need money—urgently.
Hospital bill. Stolen passport. Emergency flight. Sick relative. Whatever it is, it’s always an emergency and always comes with a request for money, gift cards, or cryptocurrency.
They ask you to keep the relationship private.
“Let’s keep this just between us.” Translation? “Please don’t tell your smarter friends who would spot me a mile away.”
They want to take the chat off-platform.
If someone you met on a dating app pushes you onto WhatsApp, Telegram, or a private email chain quickly, it’s a red flag.
How to Spot Travel Triggered Romance Scams
Summer brings out some unique variations on the classic romance scam, here are a number of the common types of travel romance scams.
The “Travel Buddy” Scam
You meet someone on a travel app or forum who wants to join your trip. They seem cool—until they ghost you after you book everything in their name. Or worse, they show up and mooch off you the entire time.
The “Local Lover” Scam
A charming local sweeps you off your feet. They say they want to visit you in your home country, but need help with a visa fee, plane ticket, or travel insurance.
The “Digital Dater” Abroad
You’re on vacation and your dating app blows up with matches. Coincidence? Hardly. Scammers geo-fence popular tourist zones because they know travelers are emotionally available and often disconnected from their usual guardrails.
The “Crypto Casanova”
You match with someone on a dating app who subtly mentions they’ve made loads of money on crypto. Soon, they offer to help you invest. Spoiler alert: the platform they send you to is fake. Your money is gone, and so are they.
McAfee’s Top Ten Tips to Protect Your Heart and Wallet While Traveling
You don’t have to be a digital hermit on your holiday. But you do need a bit of cyber street smarts. Here’s how to travel (and flirt) safely:
- Keep Your Personal Info Private
No sharing your hotel, flight info, or travel itinerary with someone you just met online. And definitely don’t post your boarding pass or hotel room number on socials.
- Don’t Send Money—Ever.
Not for flights, food, phone credit, visas, crypto, or “emergencies.” If someone asks for money, it’s a scam. Every. Single. Time.
- Reverse Image Search Their Photos
If someone seems too good to be true, screenshot their profile pics and run a reverse image search. If they’re stolen from a model or influencer, you’ll know quickly.
- Use Dating Apps with Built-In Safety Features
Stick with apps that offer verified profiles, video chat, and in-app messaging. The more friction between you and scammers, the better.
- Trust Your Gut but Also Your Brain
If something feels off, it probably is. Don’t let the vacation buzz cloud your common sense.
- Watch for Time Zone Gaps
If someone claims to be in Paris but always replies at 3 a.m. Paris time? Red flag.
- Stay Sober, Stay Sharp
A few too many cocktails and you’re more likely to miss signs of manipulation or send info you shouldn’t. Scammers love an intoxicated target.
- Tell a Friend
Let someone back home know who you’re talking to. Share screenshots if necessary. Having a second pair of eyes can save you.
- Be Cautious About Wi-Fi
Don’t send sensitive messages, share banking info, or access dating apps over public Wi-Fi. Use a VPN like McAfee Secure VPN if you must connect while on the go.
- Know When to Walk Away
Romantic attention can feel flattering—especially if you’re traveling solo. But don’t confuse flattery with trust. If someone’s pushing boundaries, bail.
What to Do If You Think You’re Being Scammed
If your gut’s screaming “scam,” don’t ignore it. Cut contact immediately. Don’t argue, don’t explain. Just block and move on.
Report them to the platform.
Whether it’s a dating app or social media site, reporting helps stop them from targeting others.
Tell your bank if you sent money.
They may be able to freeze a transaction or help with fraud recovery.
Talk to someone.
Shame is what scammers count on. Speak up. You are not alone, and you are not stupid.
Final Thoughts: Love Doesn’t Ask for Your Bank Details
Look, summer romance can be amazing. I’m not here to kill the vibe. But don’t confuse intensity for intimacy, especially when someone is operating behind a screen. If you’re lucky, your summer fling ends with a postcard and a good story. If you’re not careful, it could end with an empty bank account, a broken heart, and a bruised ego.
Be bold. Be open. But above all be smart. McAfee’s Scam Detector, can help in the fight against scammers. Our scam detector catches suspicious text messages so you can reply with confidence. We’ll filter out risky emails and phishing attempts so your inbox stays secure. With our leading, cutting-edge protection, we’ll spots deepfake videos so you can stay ahead of misinformation. Love doesn’t need to be transactional. And real connections don’t pressure, isolate, or guilt-trip. This summer, protect your heart like your passport: with care, vigilance, and just the right amount of suspicion.