Dating Fraud & Financial Red Flags: What Every Single Needs to Know Before Saying Yes
Modern dating especially for singles in their late 20s and beyond comes with its own set of emotional highs.
You meet someone.
It clicks.
The connection feels real, steady, promising.
Maybe you met on andwemet or through a friend. It’s been a few weeks, maybe a few months. Your conversations flow, your values align, and you feel it in your bones: this could be something.
And then it happens.
Out of nowhere, they advise you where to invest your money.
Or they ask you for help with finances.
Or they hint at a money problem that “only you” can understand.
Pause.
Breathe.
This is where dating meets due diligence.
Why This Matters: The Rise of Subtle Dating Frauds
Search terms like dating fraud, romance scam, online dating cheating, financial fraud in relationships are rising sharply across Google.
Because it’s happening to confident, educated, emotionally aware singles.
And it doesn’t always come in dramatic Netflix-series ways.
Sometimes it comes wrapped in trust, connection, and “we’re building a future together”.
That’s what makes it dangerous.
Before You React, Run These 3 Questions in Your Mind
1. “We’ve known each other only a few weeks or months, can trust truly be built this fast?”
Connection can happen instantly.
Trust doesn’t.
Real trust needs time, shared experiences, and a pattern of behaviour not just intense chemistry.
So remind yourself: it takes time to really know someone and their intentions.
2. “If I wasn’t in their life, who would they go to?”
This question is gold.
If you were not around, they would find another friend, advisor, professional, or family member.
The fact that they are leaning on someone they just started dating emotionally or financially may be a sign of convenience, not closeness.
They still can seek help elsewhere.
They should.
3. “Even if the financial advice is genuine, have I verified it with someone I trust?”
Someone can sound confident.
Someone can even be knowledgeable.
But your money?
Your savings?
Your future?
Always verify with a known and trusted source your banker, financial advisor, or a financially wise friend or family member.
Because genuine advice stands strong even after being cross-checked.
But What If It’s Genuine?
Of course, there are good people.
There are genuine situations where someone is overwhelmed, embarrassed, or simply misjudging the level of trust in the relationship.
You’re not accusing them.
You’re simply protecting yourself.
Healthy relationships welcome boundaries.
Unhealthy intentions get uncomfortable with them.
Common Signs of Dating Fraud to Watch Out For
They rush emotional intimacy (“you’re the only one I trust”)
They avoid meeting your friends or family
Their stories around money often feel inconsistent
They ask for investments in business ideas or schemes
They position themselves as financial “experts” too early
They guilt-trip you for hesitating
They want secrecy (“don’t discuss this with anyone else”)
They share sudden financial emergencies
They pressure you to act fast with money
Not all are scams but all are red flags worth noticing.
What Healthy, Genuine Partners Do Instead
They respect your boundaries.
They never make you feel responsible for their financial situation.
They don’t give unsolicited investment advice in early dating.
They encourage you to verify things independently.
They take accountability for their own finances.
Healthy love has transparency not pressure.
What To Do If This Happens to You
Politely say you’re not comfortable making financial decisions in early dating.
Check their suggestion with a trusted advisor.
Keep communication open but maintain boundaries.
If something feels “off”, trust your intuition, you will be surprised how it stands correct most times.
Remember: protecting yourself doesn’t mean you’re being negative.
It means you’re being aware.
Why andwemet Speaks About This
Because our singles trust us with their stories.
And over time, we’ve learnt something important:
Even the most emotionally intelligent, financially independent singles can get caught off-guard when they really like someone.
Awareness is not fear.
Awareness is power.
3 reminders: Love Slowly, Trust Slowly, Protect Fully
Falling for someone is beautiful.
Losing yourself in the process is not.
So the next time your romantic interest suggests an investment or asks for financial help pause and run the 3 reminders again.
And here's something encouraging:
We conducted a poll in our andwemet community, and it was heartening to see how aware and alert our members already are about these financial red flags.
