Scrolling social media can be an enjoyable way to connect with the world, but it can also be a gateway to heartbreak and financial ruin.

This problem has worsened over the years. More than $1 billion was lost to romance scammers in 2023, according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and 2024 figures are expected to be comparable once finalized.

As more people go online to seek romantic relationships, and transferring money has gotten easier and less traceable, an increasing number across the country — particularly older people — have fallen victim to fake romance schemes.

A scam referred to as “pig butchering”, where online scammers use romance to find targets, is on the rise costing people thousands of dollars. NBC News’ Ken Dilanian explains what a typical scam operation looks like.

The Digital Desk spoke with an expert on how to spot a romance scam and ways to protect your transactions and steer clear of digital fraud.

As AI blurs the line between what's real and what's not, the lonely and the vulnerable are getting increasingly targeted online by scammers. As a result, the loneliness epidemic now threatens to become a security crisis.