Scammed into Despair

Victims of Romance Scams Turn to Congress for Help

Washington, D.C. - A group of victims of romance scams gathered on Capitol Hill Tuesday to share their stories and push for congressional action to combat the growing problem of online fraud.

The group, made up of individuals from across the country, met with lawmakers and staff to discuss the emotional and financial toll of romance scams, which involve criminals using fake online profiles to deceive victims into sending money or personal information.

One victim, who wished to remain anonymous, told reporters that she lost over $100,000 to a scammer who posed as a charming military officer. "I was devastated," she said. "I felt like I had lost my identity and my sense of self-worth."

Another victim, a 75-year-old man from California, said he was scammed out of his life savings by a woman who claimed to be a widow looking for love. "I was so lonely and desperate for human connection," he said. "I didn't think it could happen to me, but it did."

The victims' stories were a stark reminder of the devastating impact that romance scams can have on individuals and families. According to the Federal Trade Commission, Americans lost over $200 million to romance scams in 2020 alone.

The group is calling on Congress to take action to combat the problem, including passing legislation to hold online platforms accountable for allowing scammers to operate on their sites.

"We're not asking for much," said one of the victims' advocates. "We just want lawmakers to recognize that this is a serious problem that affects real people, and that they have the power to make a difference."

Lawmakers have taken notice of the growing problem, and several bills have been introduced in Congress to address the issue. The victims' group is urging lawmakers to pass these bills and to continue to work on finding solutions to the problem.

As one victim put it, "We're not just asking for help for ourselves. We're asking for help for all the people who will be affected by this problem if we don't take action."