The IRS Criminal Investigation Denver Field Office is sounding the alarm ahead of Valentine's Day, warning Coloradans that romance scams are on the rise and getting nastier, both emotionally and financially. "Romance scams are some of the most emotionally devastating financial crimes," Special Agent in Charge Amanda Prestegard said, noting that scammers frequently zero in on older Americans and people actively looking for connection online. The schemes can drain savings or retirement accounts and can even turn victims into unwitting "money mules" who move criminal proceeds for fraud rings.
Federal investigators in Denver say their caseload tells the story. The office reported that agents opened more than double the number of romance-fraud criminal investigations last year, and indictments tied to those schemes jumped by roughly 225%. Over the last three years, the Denver field office says it has racked up a 100% conviction rate in romance-fraud cases, with defendants receiving an average federal prison sentence of more than four years, according to CBS News Colorado. Those figures were included in an IRS Criminal Investigation Denver Field Office statement issued Feb. 9 ahead of Valentine's Day.
Scammers Are Getting Sophisticated
Investigators warn that modern romance scammers are not just smooth talkers; they are increasingly tech savvy. Agents say criminals are leaning on encrypted messaging apps, cryptocurrency, and carefully fabricated identities to groom victims and move stolen money, trends that federal agencies have been flagging in recent campaigns.
One of those efforts, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission's Valentine-week initiative, highlights "relationship investment" or "pig-butchering" schemes, where victims are slowly groomed and pushed into sham cryptocurrency investments. The campaign lists IRS Criminal Investigation among the participating agencies, according to the CFTC. The FBI has also cautioned that generative AI, deepfake photos and videos, and scripted persuasion tactics are making online profiles harder to vet, while many victims hesitate to report losses at all, creating even more hurdles for investigators trying to track the money.
What To Do If You're Online Dating
The Denver IRS-CI office is offering a basic rule of thumb: if your heart is racing, your money should stay put. Investigators advise never sending money to someone you have only ever spoken with online or by phone, and never agreeing to move funds for anyone you do not know personally. They recommend verifying identities using independent, trusted sources rather than links or information supplied by the other person.
Agents also say to be careful about what you post publicly on social media or dating apps and to turn down requests for compromising photos or for shifting conversations off regulated dating platforms, according to CBS News Colorado. Those precautions echo broader federal guidance that aims to choke off the cash flow to transnational criminal networks behind many of these scams.
If you suspect you are being targeted, investigators say to cut off communication immediately and file a report with the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) or the FTC reporting tools, and to alert your bank or credit union so any transfers can be stopped when possible. Locally, victims can also contact their police department or the Denver field office of IRS Criminal Investigation to ask about active cases or victim assistance. The FBI and IC3 websites include additional resources and step-by-step reporting guidance.
As Valentine's Day approaches, federal investigators say the simplest defenses are still the strongest: pause before sending money, double-check who you are really talking to, and stay skeptical of anyone who mixes fast-moving romance with financial requests. The Denver IRS-CI office is urging residents to guard personal information online and to report suspicious activity so law enforcement can follow the trail of cash, even when the scammer's profile is a total fake.
