CFTC warns of relationship investment scams around Valentine’s Day

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission warned consumers that Valentine’s Day is an opportunity for criminals to use relationship investment scams, a form of fraud that costs Americans an estimated $10 billion each year.

Details: The CFTC's “Dating or Defrauding?” awareness campaign:

• Warns Americans to be skeptical of any requests from new online friends or romantic interests.

• Highlights common warning signs, such as requests to send crypto assets or other forms of payment to invest in scams through fake crypto websites.

ICBA View: ICBA last summer supported a Financial Crimes Enforcement Network action on crypto scams but said more needs to be done to curtail their rapid growth. In a statement for a 2024 congressional hearing on crypto-based romance confidence scams, ICBA said the persistent growth of such scams emphasizes the urgent need for policymakers to prioritize national security, counter illicit finance uses of cryptocurrency, and improve information sharing with community banks.

More Resources: ICBA blog posts spotlight the growth of these scams and the need for a policy response.