Behind the Sweet Words of Valentine's Day - The "Romance Scam Factories" Spreading "Million-Dollar Wounds" Worldwide

Valentine's Day. In this season when people around the world exchange words like "love," "miss you," and "cherish," the exact same words are being broadcasted in large quantities for a different purpose. It's not a love confession. It's the setup for a scam.

In the past, marriage and romance scams were often seen as the work of a "lone wolf" with a silver tongue. However, in recent years, this image has drastically changed. Multiple people now work in division, following scripts and procedures to manipulate the emotions of strangers. Bases known as "scam factories" or "scam centers" have sprung up in various locations, and romance scams are becoming an "industry."

Calculated Approach Starting from "Dating Sites"

The entry point frequently mentioned is dating and matching sites—places for "meeting." There, the perpetrators prepare attractive profiles and rapidly increase intimacy according to the target. Photos and self-introductions are often "appropriately" reused from other sites or social media, and the consistency in appearance actually fosters trust.

Once the conversation heats up, they find reasons like "notifications are unstable here" or "I want to talk more calmly," and move the conversation to email or another chat app. If they can lure the target off the platform, the risk of monitoring or reporting decreases. This creates a private space for just the two of them.

The "Romantic Performance" Becomes a Template and Is Run in Parallel

The terrifying aspect of industrialized scams is that emotional manipulation is no longer an "art" but a "workflow." Operators handle multiple targets simultaneously, managing "customers" (i.e., targets) as if they were in customer support. They nurture the relationship over weeks or months, waiting for a moment when the target is less likely to suspect anything—this persistence is what drives up the amount of damage.

What's important here is that scams rarely end with a "one-time payment." Once trust is established, what's usually sought is not a one-off aid but repeated payments. Excuses that tug at emotions, like "sudden accident," "illness," "detainment," "important cargo clearance," or "family crisis," are overwritten according to the situation. The FTC (Federal Trade Commission) also lists several typical pretexts frequently used in romance scams.

"You Can Increase It with Investment"—The Fusion of Romance Scams and Investment Scams

Recently, a pattern that stands out is using romantic feelings to lure targets into "investment." Initially, they close the distance with sweet words like "I'll only tell you" or "to build a future together," eventually leading to a "guaranteed profitable deal." Since there's less psychological resistance compared to sending money, the damage tends to be prolonged and more costly. When love and money intertwine, judgment becomes even more clouded.

Why the Damage Is Hard to See: Many Remain Silent Due to "Shame"

What makes romance scams troublesome is that victims find it hard to speak about the fact they were "deceived." It's not just the financial loss; the fundamental belief that "I thought I was loved" collapses. If they tell others, they fear being asked "Why did you believe it?" before receiving sympathy. As a result, reports and consultations are delayed, and the actual damage is believed to be larger than statistics suggest.

Where Are the "Factories" Located: Not Just Myanmar

While reports often mention bases in Myanmar and the Philippines, the issue is not limited to these areas. Bases are said to be scattered across multiple regions, including the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America. More concerning is that some people working in these facilities are deceived into coming or are forced to work under violence or threats, linking to "human trafficking." AFP and others report that scam bases along the Myanmar border are expanding, with suspicions of forced labor.

This structure makes enforcement difficult. Perpetrators are abroad, communications are anonymized, and payments are routed through multiple countries. It's challenging for investigative authorities to identify "who the actual perpetrators are." In Germany, there are also indications that linking domestic cases to specific overseas perpetrators is extremely difficult.

AI Mass-Producing "Love Letters": The Language Barrier Disappears

Another change is AI. Previously, unnatural grammar or expressions served as hints of "suspicion." However, with AI and translation support, perpetrators can create natural sentences even if they don't know the language. In some cases, even voice is supplemented, and video calls can be "appropriately" staged. This means that the basis of "it's natural Japanese, so it's safe" or "I talked on the phone, so it's real" is weakening.

Dating and Marriage Services Also Strengthen "Defense," But...

Of course, platforms are not standing idly by. Manual checks of new accounts, detection of suspicious behavior (mass sending of the same text, abnormal login patterns, etc.), and continuous updates of machine learning models—multilayered defenses are advancing. However, scammers also learn. They fine-tune their behavior to avoid detection, create alternative pathways, and move to external apps. Those on the defensive are always in a "chasing position."

Reactions on Social Media (Trends in "These Voices Are Increasing")

*Below is a summary of common reaction patterns seen on social media when reports of romance scams like this one emerge, organized as trends in content (not quotes from specific posts).

1. "Worried About Parent's Generation" "Alerted Family on LINE"
   Movements to "preemptively share" with family and friends are noticeable, with concerns like "preying on loneliness" and "the dangerous atmosphere of not being able to consult." The sentiment that "we should increase conversations first" rather than blaming victims is strong.

2. "Scared of AI Misuse. Can't Judge by Naturalness of Text Anymore"
   In response to discussions about AI removing language barriers, voices caution that "we'll need to change the standards of evidence in the future." Posts particularly sensitive to "moving to external apps" are increasing.

3. "It's Over When Investment Talk Comes Up"
   Regarding the fusion of romance and investment scams, proposals like "end it immediately if a money-making story comes up" and "show screenshots to a third party" are easily spread.

4. "Laughing at Victims Is Wrong"
   Posts dismissing victims with "it's the victim's fault" are countered with arguments like "the other side is organized crime" and "silence due to shame is the most dangerous." Sharing of victim support and consultation contacts tends to increase.

5. "Forced Labor in Scam Factories Is a Human Rights Issue"
   Shocked by the fact that the "scene of perpetration" operates through exploitation and violence, posts increasingly view it as "not just an internet crime but a human trafficking issue."

So, What Should Individuals Be Careful About? (Key Points Based on the Article)

Finally, based on the structure this time, we summarize the "points that are easy to fall for."

• Rushing to Move the Conversation Outside (Leading to External Apps or Email)

• Increasing Reasons for Not Meeting / Lack of Specificity (Plans Can't Be Made, Obstacles Always Arise)

• The Money Talk Evolves from "Aid" to "Investment" (Joint Future, Special Deals)

• Wanting to Keep It Secret / Blocking Advice from Others (Trapping in "It's Our Problem")

• Resisting Identity Verification or Location Confirmation (Avoiding Third-Party Verification)

And most importantly, before "doubting," ensure a **"pathway for consultation."** Criticizing romantic feelings makes people silent. The more silent they are, the more scams flourish. In the sweet season of Valentine's, calm "sharing" is effective.

Source URL

・Main-Echo (Likely similar content to dpa distribution "Romance Scam Factories" report)
https://www.main-echo.de/region/franken-bayern/liebesschwindel-fabriken-richten-milliardenschaeden-an-art-8673141

・WirtschaftsWoche (Summary and main quotes of dpa distribution "Betrogene Herzen: Liebesschwindel-Fabriken...")
https://www.wiwo.de/dpa/betrogene-herzen-liebesschwindel-fabriken-richten-milliardenschaeden-an/100200051.html/

・WELT (Summary of the same dpa distribution. Industrialization of damage, bases, AI use, etc.)
https://www.welt.de/newsticker/dpa_nt/infoline_nt/wirtschaft_nt/article698ea3160abe5c8b74ecdcc9/liebesschwindel-fabriken-richten-milliardenschaeden-an.html

・FTC (Federal Trade Commission: Official explanation of typical excuses and trends used in romance scams)
https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2023/02/new-ftc-data-reveals-top-lies-told-romance-scammers

・AP News (Valentine's season romance scam precautions and victim support perspective)
https://apnews.com/article/563ed335a7fc6a27f3f97ec14df1b867

・AFP Reports (Myanmar border scam bases, crackdowns, including Starlink, secondary publication of investigative reports)
https://www.copernical.com/news-public/item/54227-2025-10-15-11-55-08