May 3, 2026, 7:11 am | Read time: 2 minutes
Many people today meet through dating apps, social networks, or chat platforms. Scammers exploit this openness. Love scamming isn’t just about nice messages or false promises. The perpetrators aim to build trust and develop an emotional bond from it.
According to police, there was a particularly severe case of love scamming in the Zwickau district. A man was in contact with a person posing as a doctor from Ukraine between July 2025 and March 2026. What seemed like a potential relationship to him ended with significant financial loss.
First Approach, Then the Request for Money
The contact was through an unspecified chat platform. The scammers apparently proceeded step by step. First, there was an exchange, then the relationship became closer. Over weeks, the victim felt they could trust the person on the other side. This is exactly what the scam targets: criminals play with longing, hope, and infatuation. This makes victims less critical when problems suddenly arise.
After the getting-to-know-you phase, requests for financial help came. The supposed doctor needed money for a trip to Germany. Later, it was also about medical treatments and shortages explained by frozen assets. Over the months, the man transferred various amounts of money multiple times. According to the article, the money went to foreign accounts and crypto wallets. In the end, he lost around 100,000 euros. The hoped-for relationship never materialized.
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What the Police Say About Suspected Love Scamming
The police warn against this form of online fraud and similar methods. The perpetrators know how to make people emotionally dependent. For individuals, this means always being cautious with online acquaintances, even if the contact seems very familiar. It becomes particularly critical when someone asks for money, even though you’ve never met in person. At such a moment, all alarm bells should ring.
As difficult as it may be to break off in an emotional situation: If an online flirt demands money, you should end the contact. According to the police, it is also advisable to file a report. It is important not to remain silent out of shame. Love scamming works because perpetrators deliberately exploit emotions. This is precisely why it helps to distance oneself early and not make any further payments.