Money Scam Cycle of the Week: February 10, 2026
Love is in the air, they say – that could be scammers waiting to pocket your money. In this first iteration of Money Scam, we discuss the most infamous schemes to watch out for this Valentine’s week.
- Creeping fish: Romance scams are expected to see a huge spike in activity on Valentine’s Day. FBI offices in cities like Philadelphia and Jacksonville have already sent out alerts for the public to be on the lookout for scammers pretending to be romantic interests to get into your wallet. Seniors are especially vulnerable to these scams: People over the age of 60 reported a loss of $389 million in 2024 (the largest of any age group) according to the Bureau’s latest Internet Crime Report.
- Like pigs going to the slaughter: Another type of romance scam known as pig killing has become very popular. This is when the scammer “fats” their target by showering them with love in order to later present a supposedly high-value investment opportunity, usually crypto-related. We saw this happen on a scale recently with Jingliang Su, who was sentenced to 46 months in prison for smuggling $36.9 million to Americans after befriending them.
- Roses are false, violets are duds: Scammer and scammer shops appear, flowers are the weapons of choice for many scammers. Bouquets are a popular Valentine’s Day gift, and if you wait until the last minute to order one, you may be less diligent when checking to see if the business is genuine. One victim’s account on the BBB says they lost $130.67 after a fake Google-approved company canceled their order immediately but did not send them a refund.
Protect your digital life: See the current Lifelock identity theft plans and get your first year of the standard plan for just $7.99 per month.
The most common types of scams you should be aware of
Fraudsters are always upping their game, coming up with new and (their) fun ways to trick their targets. AI-powered scams are one example of this: technology is used to reach large numbers of people with increasingly convincing schemes.
But some tricks never go out of style. Most scams fall into a few common patterns, and the old ones are still the biggest threat today – they’ve just evolved to better suit today’s digital environment.
- Fraudster scams: Fraudsters often pose as trusted figures such as government agencies, banks, employers and even friends or family to pressure victims into sending money or sharing personal information.
- Phishing and fraud: These scams use emails, texts or phone calls that appear to be from legitimate organizations. The goal is to trick you into clicking a malicious link, downloading malware or providing sensitive information.
- Online shopping scams: Fraudsters can create fake online stores or listings with hard-to-find items at unusually low prices. After paying for an article, what you end up getting may be fake – or it may never arrive in the first place.
- Investment scams: This type of scam often comes with promises of high returns from crypto, forex or other “exclusive” opportunities. Many involve long-term fix-it schemes, where victims are encouraged to invest more money over time before losing it all.
- Scams in love: Some fraudsters try to get into your pocket by heart. They build relationships with you on dating apps or social media, then convince you to give up money and assets by creating contingency or investment opportunities.
Plans for everyone: Check out Aura’s options for identifying yourself and your family, starting at $9 a month when you pay annually.
What to do if you are a victim – or the victim of a scam
No one is immune to fraud or embezzlement, but a few consistent practices can reduce their risk and the damage they cause.
First, be suspicious of unsolicited messages, especially those that create fear or urgency. This could look like an email from your bank threatening to close your account, a text from an online marketplace saying you’ll lose your rebate or a call from the IRS saying they’ll report you to the authorities unless you “act now.”
Scammers like to use this type of language because it sets up the target immediately, expecting the prospect to move you into action.
Suffice it to say, always verify any requests from the organization by checking their official phone numbers, email or website. And don’t click on any links, download email attachments or reply to messages you suspect are fraudulent. A legitimate organization will not pressure you into immediate action or secrecy.
Now, if you’ve already sent financial information or money to someone you suspect is a scammer, you’ll need to skip it. Contact your bank, credit card company or payment platform immediately and try to stop or reverse the transaction. Be sure to change any passwords and enable multi-factor authentication to protect your accounts as well.
Reporting a scam can also help protect others. You can file a report with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at and local authorities at the nearest police department or sheriff’s office. Victims of identity theft should also consider temporarily freezing their credit.
Finally, review your financial statements and credit reports regularly, keep your software up to date and limit how much personal information you share online. Fraudsters often rely on publicly available information to make their schemes more believable.
