What Is a Romance Scam?
Romance scams involve fraudsters creating fake online personas — often using stolen photos of attractive or successful-looking people — and building a romantic relationship with a victim over weeks or months. Once deep emotional trust is established, the scammer introduces a crisis that requires the victim to send money.
Both Ghanaians and international victims are targeted. Some scams originate in Ghana; others target Ghanaians living abroad or those seeking foreign partners.
How the Scam Unfolds
The scammer creates a profile on a dating app, Facebook, Instagram, or even LinkedIn. They initiate contact and quickly move the conversation to WhatsApp or Telegram.
They are intensely attentive, complimentary, and fast to declare love. They create an elaborate backstory — often a military officer abroad, a successful engineer on an overseas contract, or a doctor with an international organization.
Over time they share 'personal' photos and stories that feel intimate and real. They consistently avoid video calls, citing poor internet connection, security restrictions, or camera problems.
Then a crisis emerges: a medical emergency, a customs issue with a package, a business opportunity that needs a small bridging loan, or plane tickets to finally come and visit. The first request is usually small. It grows.
Why It Works
The investment of time and emotion makes it psychologically very difficult to accept that the relationship is fake. Victims often continue sending money even after friends and family express concern.
Scammers are skilled at reframing doubt: 'I thought you trusted me,' 'If you loved me you would help,' 'This is the last time, I promise.'
Warning Signs
They fall in love very quickly and use excessive flattery early in the relationship.
They have a profession that justifies being abroad and unavailable for video calls.
They have only a small number of photos available, the photos look professionally taken, or reverse image search reveals the photos belong to someone else.
Any request for money — however small or well-explained — from someone you have never met in person is a serious warning sign.
They discourage you from telling friends or family about the relationship.
What to Do
Run a reverse image search on their profile photos using Google Images or TinEye.
Never send money or gift cards to anyone you have not met in person, regardless of how strong the emotional connection feels.
If you suspect a romance scam, stop all contact and report the account to the platform and to Ghana Police.
Talk to someone you trust. Romance scam victims often feel shame, but you have done nothing wrong — you were deliberately targeted and manipulated.