Gone With the Shame: One in Two Americans Are Reluctant to Talk About Romance Scam Incidents

A NordProtect-commissioned survey of 2,078 US online users (Jan 14–24, 2026) found 15% reported losing money to romance scams, with men—particularly those aged 35–44—more frequently targeted; many victims feel shame and underreport incidents (19% overall, up to 26% for smaller losses). The release highlights common scam tactics (fake personas on social media), where victims report incidents (banks, friends, local police) rather than official channels (IC3, FTC), and urges reporting to law enforcement and platform/financial channels to improve prevention and protection.