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‘Romance Scams' Cost Online Daters $143M in 2018, Federal Data Show

The agency warns that anyone requesting money or gift cards over online dating sites should be a red flag

More scammers than ever are taking advantage of people looking for love on dating apps and social media, NBC News reported.

Consumers last year reported $143 million in losses from "emotional romance scams," more than any other category fraud, according to Monica Vaca of the Federal Trade Commission.

The agency warns that anyone requesting money or gift cards over online dating sites should be a red flag. Scammers offer up tales of misfortune or emergencies and ask for money, yet never meet in person.

People aged 40 to 69 are most often the victims of such scams, according to federal data.

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