Valentine's Day is here again, and while some people are spending it with their partner, others might be getting unknowingly scammed online. Federal agencies and tech companies are sounding the alarm on "romance scammers," many of whom live overseas and use the promise of a romantic encounter to lure in Americans.

For years, brave romance scam victims have shared their stories to prevent others from meeting the same fate. But rarely do those who’ve committed the scams tell us how to avoid them.

As Valentine’s Day approaches, the FBI Springfield office is cautioning the public to be vigilant about online relationships, warning that not all digital connections are genuine.