San Antonio Romance Scam Victims Lost $28 Million in 2025

Dramatic Surge in Romance Fraud Losses

Romance scammers extracted more than $28 million from victims across the San Antonio Division in 2025, a sharp increase from $15.8 million in 2024 , according to FBI data released this week. The staggering 77% jump reflects a nationwide epidemic that's becoming increasingly sophisticated as criminals weaponize artificial intelligence to deceive vulnerable hearts.

The San Antonio region's losses mirror a disturbing national trend. FBI data from 2024 showed that more than 17,000 people reported being victims of romance scams, totaling more than $672 million in losses . Yet these figures likely represent just the tip of the iceberg, as fewer than 5% of victims report scams to the government , according to Federal Trade Commission research.

AI Technology Fuels Sophisticated Deception

Modern romance scammers have evolved far beyond crude email schemes. The FBI is seeing criminals increasingly use artificial intelligence (AI) to make romance scams more convincing and harder to detect. Scammers are utilizing AI to generate realistic photos, videos, and voice messages, as well as to write emotionally persuasive communications that mimic genuine relationships .

BioCatch, a startup that specializes in fraud and financial crime prevention, told Axios that 340 financial institutions reported a 63% uptick in romance scam attempts between 2024 and 2025 . The technology allows criminals to create deepfake personas and hyper-personalize their approach, making detection nearly impossible for unsuspecting victims.

These scams typically begin on familiar platforms. According to the FTC, 40% of victims reported that the scam began through social media websites. Of those reports, 29% started on Instagram and 28% began on Facebook. Another 19% report that it began on a dating app such as Tinder .

Devastating Impact on Older Adults

The financial and emotional toll on victims can be catastrophic. Victims over 60 years old are the most impacted demographic, according to the FBI, with 7,600 reported cases accounting for nearly $400 million in losses . Individual losses can be staggering—one Boston victim was scammed out of half a million through a fraudulent trading platform after matching with someone on Tinder.

The psychological manipulation runs deep. These scammers do this for a living, all day, every day, and anyone who devotes that much time to it is going to be good at their tradecraft. It's really quite simple; they prey on both the trust and loneliness of the victim , explains FBI supervisory senior agent Michael Rod. Even when authorities present evidence of fraud, victims often refuse to believe they've been deceived.

Growing Threat Demands Vigilance

The romance scam epidemic shows no signs of slowing. After beginning a relationship, scammers typically start asking for increments of cash, maybe to help pay for a construction project, hospital bills, or a plane ticket . Red flags include requests to move conversations off dating platforms to encrypted messaging apps and persistent excuses for why in-person meetings aren't possible.

As artificial intelligence becomes more accessible and sophisticated, the line between genuine connection and calculated deception will continue to blur. The San Antonio region's doubling of losses in just one year serves as a stark reminder that digital romance requires the same caution as any significant financial decision. In an era where authentic human connection feels increasingly rare, the cruel irony is that those seeking love most desperately may be most vulnerable to those who would exploit it.