Romance scams on BBW dating sites: the signs and what to do
Updated October 19, 2026Curvy Match editorial teamHow we rateNo affiliate links in this guide
Short answer
Romance scammers build trust for weeks, move you off the app, then ask for money through gift cards, crypto or wires. Americans reported $672 million in romance and confidence fraud losses to the FBI in 2024. Never send money to someone you have not met in person, and report at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and ic3.gov.
How big the problem is
The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center logged 17,910 confidence and romance fraud complaints in 2024, with $672,009,052 in reported losses. People aged 60 and over filed 7,626 of those complaints and accounted for about $389 million of the losses.
The FTC's numbers point the same way. In its 2023 analysis of 2022 reports, nearly 70,000 people reported a romance scam and losses reached $1.3 billion, with a median loss of $4,400. In May 2026 the FTC said reported romance scam losses had risen another 22%.
These are reported cases only. Many people never report out of embarrassment, so the real numbers are higher.
Why curvy dating apps are a target
Scammers go where people are open about wanting a relationship, and niche apps can have thinner moderation than the biggest platforms. User reviews show it. When we checked Trustpilot in October 2026, BBWCupid had a TrustScore of 1.8 from 294 reviews, with complaints about fake profiles, requests for gift cards and pressure to move off the site. WooPlus had 1.5 from 47 reviews, 85% of them one star, including reports of matches who steered the chat toward crypto trading and off the app.
Trustpilot reviews are self-selected and skew negative, so they are not proof of how common scammers are. They do show which tactics people keep running into.
The scripts scammers reuse
The stories change, the structure does not. The FTC lists these as the most common cover stories:
- Deployed military or on a faraway base, so he cannot video call or meet.
- Working on an offshore oil rig, or as a doctor or engineer abroad with an international organization.
- A sudden emergency: medical bills, a plane ticket to come see you, a visa, customs fees, a frozen bank account.
- An investment opportunity, usually crypto, presented as something he is doing for both of you.
Warning signs on the app
Watch the sequence more than any single message.
- Moves you to WhatsApp, Telegram, Google Chat or text within the first few days. Off-app, there is no moderation and no record the platform can act on.
- Very intense affection very fast, with pet names and talk of a future before you have met.
- Always a reason the camera does not work.
- Asks a lot about you and shares almost nothing checkable.
- Photos look like a model's or a catalog's. A reverse image search often finds them under another name.
- Any request for money, gift card codes, crypto, your bank login or a remote-access app like AnyDesk.
The rule that stops nearly every romance scam: never send money, gift cards or crypto to someone you have not met in person. No exceptions for emergencies.
How they ask you to pay, and why it matters
Scammers pick payment methods that are hard to reverse. In the FTC's 2022 data, gift cards were the most frequently reported method, named in 24% of loss reports, with a median loss of $700. Crypto and bank wires made up more than 60% of total dollars lost, with median losses around $10,000 each.
| Payment method | Median loss reported (FTC, 2022) | Can you get it back? |
|---|---|---|
| Cryptocurrency | $10,079 | Rarely. Report fast anyway. |
| Bank transfer / wire | $10,000 | Sometimes, if your bank acts quickly. |
| Gift cards | $700 | Occasionally, if you contact the card issuer right away with the receipt. |
| Payment app | $650 | Depends on the app. Contact it immediately. |
If you already sent money
Move fast and do not let shame slow you down. These scams are run by organized groups, and they work on smart people.
- Stop all contact. Do not send more money to recover what you lost, including to anyone offering to get it back for a fee.
- Call your bank, card issuer, gift card company or the payment app and ask them to stop or reverse the payment.
- Report to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to the FBI at ic3.gov.
- Report the profile to the dating app with screenshots.
- Tell someone you trust. Scammers count on isolation.
Questions
Are BBW dating sites full of scammers?
Every dating platform has some. Niche sites can have weaker moderation, and user reviews for some curvy apps mention fake profiles often. Use in-app chat, video call before meeting and never send money.
He wants to move to WhatsApp. Is that a scam?
Not always, but it is the most common first step. Stay on the app until you have video called and feel sure. A genuine match will wait.
How do I check if his photos are real?
Run a reverse image search (Google Lens or TinEye). If the photos appear under other names or on stock sites, end the conversation.
He says he is a soldier overseas. Could it be true?
It could, but it is the single most used scam story. A real service member does not need you to pay for leave, flights or a phone.
Where do I report a romance scam in the US?
ReportFraud.ftc.gov and the FBI's ic3.gov, plus the dating app and your bank. Outside the US, use your national fraud line.
Can I get my money back?
Sometimes, especially with cards and bank transfers if you act within hours. Crypto is hard to recover. Be wary of recovery services that charge upfront; many are scams too.
Sources
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