Quick answer
Report romance scams to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, FBI IC3.gov, and local police. Romance scams are the #1 fraud by losses—report immediately to freeze assets.
How to Report a Romance Scam: Get Your Money Back and Stop the Scammer
Quick answer: Report a romance scam to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov and the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov. Report the profile to the dating app or platform, and contact your bank, card issuer, or wire/crypto service immediately to try to stop or recover payments. Stop all contact and don’t send more money.
Romance scammers build fake relationships to steal money, often over months. Reporting quickly can help freeze transfers, supports FBI investigations, and protects others. This guide covers where to report, how to try to recover funds, and how to protect yourself going forward.
How Romance Scams Work
Scammers create attractive fake profiles on dating apps and social media, build trust quickly, and then invent emergencies — medical bills, travel costs, customs fees, or a ‘guaranteed’ crypto investment — to request money. They avoid video calls and meeting in person and pressure you to keep the relationship secret. Losses to romance scams run into the billions each year.
If you’ve sent money, recognize it’s not your fault — these are professional criminals using rehearsed scripts. The priority now is to stop further loss, report, and try to recover funds.
Acting Fast to Recover Money
Speed matters. Contact your bank or card issuer immediately to report fraud and attempt a recall or chargeback. For wire transfers, ask the provider (such as Western Union or MoneyGram) to stop or reverse it. For gift cards, contact the issuing company right away. For cryptocurrency, report to the exchange and the FBI — recovery is difficult but reporting still helps. Beware ‘recovery scammers’ who target victims a second time by promising to retrieve lost funds for a fee.
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Where to Report a Romance Scam
| Situation | Agency | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Fraud (central U.S. report) | FTC | reportfraud.ftc.gov |
| Internet crime / financial loss | FBI IC3 | ic3.gov |
| The dating app / platform | Platform safety team | In-app “Report profile” |
| Money sent (card/bank) | Your bank / card issuer | Call the number on your card |
| Wire transfer | Wire service | Western Union / MoneyGram fraud line |
| Older-adult victims (support) | AARP Fraud Watch | 1-877-908-3360 | aarp.org/fraudwatch |
How to Report a Romance Scam Step by Step
- Stop all contact and payments. Cut off communication and do not send any more money, gift cards, or crypto, no matter the story or threat.
- Preserve the evidence. Save the profile, messages, photos, email addresses, phone numbers, and every payment record (amounts, dates, methods, and recipient details).
- Contact your bank or payment provider now. Report the fraud and ask about recalling transfers or disputing charges. For wires and gift cards, call the provider immediately — fast action sometimes stops the transfer.
- Report to the FTC. File at reportfraud.ftc.gov with the details and amounts — the central U.S. fraud report.
- Report to the FBI’s IC3. File at ic3.gov, which investigates online financial crime and aggregates romance-scam cases.
- Report the profile to the platform. Use the dating app or social network’s report tool so they can remove the scammer and warn others.
- Protect your identity. If you shared personal or financial details, monitor your accounts, change passwords, and consider a credit fraud alert.
- Beware recovery scams. Anyone who contacts you promising to recover your money for an upfront fee is almost certainly a second scammer. Report them too.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get my money back from a romance scam?
Sometimes, if you act fast. Card and bank payments may be reversible; wires and gift cards are harder but should be reported to the provider immediately. Crypto is rarely recoverable, but reporting still aids investigations.
Where do I report a romance scam?
File with the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov and the FBI’s IC3 at ic3.gov, report the profile to the dating app, and notify your bank or payment provider. Reporting to all of them gives the best chance of action.
How do I recognize a romance scammer?
Red flags: they fall in love fast, avoid video calls and in-person meetings, claim to be overseas (often military or on an oil rig), and eventually ask for money or push a crypto ‘investment.’ Reverse-image-search their photos.
Is it my fault I was scammed?
No. Romance scammers are organized criminals using practiced manipulation. Shame keeps victims silent, which is exactly what scammers want — reporting is the right response, not something to be embarrassed about.
What is a recovery scam?
A follow-up scam where someone contacts a victim claiming they can recover the lost money for an upfront fee. It’s a second fraud. Legitimate authorities never charge to recover funds — report these approaches to the FTC and FBI.
For related guides see: How to Report an Online Scam, How to Report a Scam Website, How to Report Identity Theft.
Independent resource — not affiliated with any U.S. government agency. Last reviewed: June 2026.
What happens next
- Most agencies send an acknowledgment or reference number — save it with your copies.
- Investigations vary by agency; complex cases can take weeks or months.
- If you do not hear back within the timeframe listed on the agency site, follow up in writing.
- Keep reporting to additional agencies if your issue crosses categories (for example, fraud plus billing).