Authorities note the rise in scams using romance, love and even marriage as a pretext for bilking residents out of thousands, often with little recourse.
The FBI reported that the scammers use the illusion of a romantic relationship to get into the heads of their victims and earn their trust before asking for money.
Romance scams bedevil law enforcement in New Hampshire, elsewhere nhbr.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from nhbr.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Romance scams ranging from fake online dating profiles to would-be "sugar mommas" are ticking upward as summer approaches, according to U.S. officials who have struggled to stop them.