Dating safely
Most people you meet are exactly who they say. These habits protect you from the few who aren’t.
Report romance scams to the Illinois Attorney General
If someone you met online asks for money, report it to the Illinois Attorney General online at ccformsubmission.ilag.gov or on a Consumer Fraud Hotline: Chicago 1-800-386-5438, Springfield 1-800-243-0618, Carbondale 1-800-243-0607, or 1-866-310-8398 in Spanish. Report the profile to us too.
Source: Illinois Attorney General: Valentine's Day tips to prevent romance scams (13 Feb 2026)
Report to the FTC and the FBI
You can also report romance scams to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov. If you have already sent money, call your bank straight away.
Know the red flags
Be wary of anyone who pushes you to move to text or another app quickly, avoids video calls or meeting in person, or asks for money, gift cards or crypto. Try a reverse image search on their photos, and tell a friend about anyone new you are talking to.
Source: Illinois Attorney General: Valentine's Day tips to prevent romance scams (13 Feb 2026)