February 13, 2026
Protect Your Heart (and Wallet) With Advice on Avoiding Romance Scams, Deceptive Advertising and Other Consumer Traps
NEW YORK, NY – Today, the New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) is sharing common red flags New Yorkers should look for to stop scammers in their tracks and celebrate Valentine’s Day with confidence. Valentine’s Day means flowers, gifts and dinner reservations, but also plenty of opportunities for hidden motives and misplaced trust. In some cases, consumers have reported losing up to $1 million in romance scams, according to ABC7. DCWP reminds all New Yorkers that resources are available to help protect their financial wellbeing—on Valentine’s Day and every day.
"Romance scammers use highly persuasive techniques, trafficking in endless lies and preying on people at their most vulnerable. If you've fallen victim to a romance scam, don't be ashamed—fight back by reporting it to DCWP," said DCWP Commissioner Sam Levine. "This agency is prepared to take aggressive action against cheaters, tricksters, and corporations that get rich through deception."
Protecting Yourself and Your Community this Valentine’s Day
Look for romance scam red flags. Be immensely cautious of online relationships that turn into requests for money, gift cards or private information. Be wary of anyone you meet online who needs emergency cash or wants you to invest. Do a reverse image search of the person’s profile picture—if it is linked to another name or details that don’t line up, it’s likely a scam. And be suspicious of anyone who tells you meeting in person is impossible.
Watch out for your neighbors, and don't assume you’re immune. Romance scams target New Yorkers of all ages, occupations and neighborhoods. Even the most sophisticated consumers can be taken in. If a friend, relative or neighbor has been targeted by a romance scammer, support and empathy can help them recover and protect others.
Keep your personal details on lock. Protect your password like you would your heart. People can use your online password to log on to your internet account, send mail from it or otherwise run up expenses. Use a combination of letters, numbers and symbols for your password, change it frequently and do not share it with anyone.
Check business reviews and complaints. A quick search can help you avoid heartbreak from unreliable vendors and businesses.
Look for return and refund policies. Not all gifts are returnable—especially flowers, personalized items or last-minute purchases. If no refund policy is posted at a store or available on a website, you can return any unused item within 30 days, and the business must give you the choice of cash or credit. Beware that if you use a “buy now pay later” product, you may not be able to get a refund easily or at all.
Understand what you’re buying. Special Valentine’s Day offers and subscription gifts may come with restrictions, automatic renewals or cancellation fees. Financing—including using credit cards, “buy now, pay later” products and installment loans—can allow you to purchase gifts for the holiday and spread out payments. But be wary of offers that sound too good to be true. They probably are.
Hold onto receipts and confirmations. Holding on to that receipt is essential if there’s an issue with billing, delivery or misleading advertising. In New York City, businesses must give you a receipt for purchases over $20, and upon request for purchases between $5 and $20. Save your receipts and ask for gift receipts to make returns easier.
New Yorkers with questions or concerns can contact DCWP by calling 311 or visiting nyc.gov/dcwp to file a complaint, learn about their rights or access free resources.
The NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) is the nation’s leading municipal enforcement agency charged with delivering economic justice. DCWP leverages its authority to bring New Yorkers real economic relief and protect them from predatory, deceptive, and unfair practices that violate their rights as consumers and workers. This includes pioneering cutting-edge protections, such as the City’s Consumer Protection Law, Protected Time Off Law, Fair Workweek Law, and Delivery Worker Laws, including the Minimum Pay Rate for delivery workers. Through licensing more than 45,000 businesses in over 45 industries, DCWP ensures fair competition and a level playing field for responsible small businesses that are integral to New York City’s vibrant communities. DCWP also provides essential services such as free tax preparation and financial counseling to ensure New Yorkers keep more of what they earn and can plan for their futures. DCWP is committed to making sure New York City is a fairer, more affordable place to live. For more information about DCWP and its work, call 311 or visit DCWP at nyc.gov/dcwp, sign up for its newsletter, or follow on its social media sites, X, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
Media Contact:
Milo Fink Gringlas
Department of Consumer and Worker Protection
(646) 772-0331
press@dcwp.nyc.gov
