Dating site matches who get you to connect your crypto wallet to a fake NFT site

The Scam

According to an Oct. 27, 2026 announcement by the Justice Department's Scam Center Strike Force (released by the U.S. Secret Service), scammers posed as attractive women who met victims on dating websites, then got them to connect their cryptocurrency wallets to fraudulent websites tied to NFT (nonfungible token) investments. Once a wallet was connected, the scammers allegedly encouraged victims to keep funding it and then pulled money out of it without the victims' knowledge. Authorities say the scammers worked from scripts, and the U.S. Attorney said the operations hire real people to record videos that are reused across many targets to build trust. Six people were charged; the charges are allegations.

The Targets

People looking for relationships on dating websites. Authorities say the FBI linked about 74 crypto wallets to about 800 victims across the U.S. who reported losses.

Red flags

• A dating match you've never met in person steers the conversation to NFT or crypto investing
• You're asked to connect your crypto wallet to a website they recommend
• Personal-looking videos or photos used to build trust quickly
• You're urged to keep adding money to your wallet so you can earn more

Your Move

• Never connect your crypto wallet to a site recommended by someone you met online
• Pause before responding to messages from strangers, as the Secret Service advises
• Report it to the FBI at ic3.gov with wallet addresses and transaction details

More steps for any scam link: I clicked a scam link. What now?

Still circulating?

Federal authorities announced charges in this scheme on Oct. 27, 2026 and seized the associated websites.

Related sources

• NBC4 Washington: Feds warn of crypto scam that uses fake dating websites
• California DFPI: Pig butchering, how to spot and report the scam