A suspect in an online romance scam said he owned an oil rig in the Middle East but urgently needed money, in a scheme that saw a 73-year-old victim defrauded of more than $250,000, police allege.

Around 70,000 people fell victim to romance scams in 2022, costing about $1.3 billion, with the median loss for each victim being $4,400. ... "I’m on an oil rig or ship." ...

8 Lines Romance Scammers Will Use to Woo You "Someone close to me is sick or hurt," "I'm on an oil rig," and other lies that scammers use to reel you in.