Singles looking for love this Valentine's Day have been warned to be wary of unscrupulous cupids lurking online.

Consumer advocates across the Tasman say romantic rorts took more than $20 million dollars from Australians last year.

About 20 percent of the losses were during February.

They say people looking for love online need to be aware of the warning signs, and never send money to someone they haven't met in the real world.

 NSW Fair Trading has warned singles to think with their heads, not their hearts, as they set out on their quest for romance.

It said would-be lovers may get caught in a wicked web of hidden costs, sneaky contracts and cancellation traps and said they should avoid offering up credit card details to strangers.