Thousands of People Fell for This Romance Scam Last Year. Here’s How to Protect Yourself by Alix Langone Sweetheart scams are on the rise and Americans, especially older romantics, need to be aware of the signs that someone may love your wallet more than you. More than $143 million in losses were reported from 21,000 different victims in 2018, according to the Federal Trade Commission, more than any other kind of consumer fraud last year.