The South African Southern African Fraud Prevention Service (SAFPS) has warned that scammers are on the rise during the month of February.

While many South Africans search for love, fraudsters are on the hunt, preying on trust and emotional vulnerability.

Manie van Schalkwyk, CEO of SAFPS says romance scams have become highly sophisticated, psychologically engineered, and technologically advanced.

“While romance scams are a reality all year round, scammers actively target and exploit people’s emotions more around Valentine’s Day. We want South Africans to be alert, informed, and protected.”

Schalkwyk says scammers often create profiles that seem perfect. They study victims’ online behaviour to build trust, using daily messages and flattery to create emotional dependency.

“This is known as social engineering, where they use their victim’s behaviour and what they share with the world against them in order to influence or deceive them. People underestimate how powerful emotional engineering can be. Scammers don’t just steal money, they steal trust, dignity, and emotional security.”

He further adds that there are several signs to look out for to protect yourself from becoming a victim of “love”.

“Warning signs include avoidance of in-person meetings, unusual interest in personal details, and requests for money or unrealistic investment opportunities. If something feels off, trust your instincts.”