Love bombing from someone you just met

• Declarations of love or 'destiny' in the first week.
• Messages morning, noon, and night, with mild sulking if you're slow to reply.
• They mirror everything: your hobbies, your values, your losses.
• 'What we have is special, let's keep it between us.'

Constant attention creates a bond faster than real dating does, and a bond makes it hard to say no. Once you feel chosen, questioning them feels like betraying them. Scripts lean on this because it works on sharp, careful people, not just lonely ones. The FTC's romance-scam data shows the money request almost always comes after weeks of this.

• Slow it down on purpose. Someone real will still be there next week.
• Tell a friend what's been said. Hearing yourself describe it out loud helps.
• Treat any money, gift card, or crypto request as the end of the story, not a test of your feelings.
• If you already sent something, act now, minutes matter.

More in the tips: Dating and new online friends.