To report a romance scammer: report the profile to the dating platform, file a complaint with the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, submit a report to the FBI’s IC3 at IC3.gov, contact your bank or payment provider if money was sent, and consider filing a local police report for documentation.
You are doing the right thing. Whether you caught the scam early or realized it after money was sent, reporting matters. Your report can help authorities track patterns, warn others, and connect related complaints. Even if nothing can be recovered personally, what you share may become part of a larger record.
If you are still unsure whether what you experienced is a scam, start with our guide to romance scam warning signs. If someone is still asking you for money and you are not sure how to respond, read what to do if someone asks for money first. For the broader safety path, start with the Safe Dating & Scam Protection hub.
This page walks you through five reporting steps. You do not need to do them all at once. Start with whichever feels manageable and work through the rest when you are ready.
What to Gather Before You Report
Before you file anything, take a few minutes to collect your evidence. Having this information ready makes every report faster and more useful.
Here is what to gather:
- Screenshots of the scammer’s profile (name, photos, bio)
- Screenshots of messages, especially money requests or pressure tactics
- Usernames, phone numbers, and email addresses they used
- URLs of their dating profile or social media accounts
- Transaction receipts, bank statements, gift card numbers, or crypto wallet addresses
- A timeline of events: when you first connected, when money was requested, and when money was sent
Store everything in a place you will not lose it. A dedicated folder on your phone or computer works. Emailing it to yourself creates a timestamped backup. A printed copy is useful if you file a police report in person.
One important note: gather this evidence before you block the profile if you can do so safely. Once you block someone, their messages and profile may become inaccessible to you.
Step 1 — Report the Profile to the Dating Platform
What to do: Use the app or site’s built-in report feature to flag the profile as a scam.
Where to go: Open the profile or message thread and look for a “Report” button, three-dot menu, safety menu, or shield icon. The exact label varies by platform.
What to expect: You will be asked to select a reason. Choose “scam,” “fraud,” or “fake profile” depending on the options. Some platforms ask for a brief description. You do not need to prove a crime at this stage; platforms can review reports alongside account behavior and reports from other users.
How long it takes: Under two minutes.
This step matters because it triggers the platform’s internal review. Your report may help the platform remove or restrict the account, especially if other users have reported similar behavior. You may not receive a follow-up from the platform.
Step 2 — File a Complaint with the FTC
What to do: Submit a fraud report to the Federal Trade Commission.
Where to go: ReportFraud.ftc.gov
What to expect: The FTC’s online form walks you through what happened step by step. You will be asked for details about the scammer, how you were contacted, what was requested or sent, and the dollar amount involved, if any. Keep screenshots and records even if the form does not ask for every file.
How long it takes: About 10 minutes.
The FTC does not resolve individual cases or recover money for you directly. What they can do is use reports to identify fraud patterns, warn the public, and support enforcement work.
This means your report matters even if you did not lose money. Attempted scams are still worth reporting because they help show how these operations work and who they target.
You will receive a confirmation after submitting. Keep it for your records.
Step 3 — File with the FBI’s IC3
What to do: Submit a complaint to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.
Where to go: IC3.gov
When to use this: File with IC3 when money crossed state lines or international borders, when the amount is significant, or when you believe organized crime is involved. That said, you can file regardless of amount. There is no minimum threshold.
What to expect: The online form asks for similar information as the FTC report — details about the scammer, how contact was made, what happened, and financial losses. You will receive a reference number after submission.
How long it takes: About 10–15 minutes.
IC3 collects cyber-enabled crime complaints, analyzes reports for patterns, and may refer complaints to federal, state, local, or international law enforcement partners.
You may not hear back individually. IC3 says it cannot respond directly to every submission, but reports still help it understand broader threats and share information with law enforcement partners.
Step 4 — Contact Your Bank or Payment Provider
What to do: If you sent money or shared financial information, contact your bank or payment provider’s fraud department immediately.
Where to go: Call the number on the back of your credit or debit card, or log into your banking app and look for “Report Fraud” or “Dispute a Transaction.”
What to say: “I believe I was targeted by fraud. I need to report a transaction and protect my account.” They will walk you through the next steps.
What to expect by payment type:
- Credit card — You may be able to dispute the charge. Federal law gives you 60 days from when the first statement with the disputed charge was sent to you. Call your issuer and ask what dispute process applies.
- Bank wire — Contact your bank’s fraud department immediately. Recovery may be limited after funds clear, so speed matters.
- Gift cards — Contact the card issuer (Apple, Google, Amazon, Target). They may be able to freeze the card if it has not been redeemed. Recovery is unlikely once the code is used, but report it anyway.
- Cryptocurrency — Contact the exchange or crypto platform you used. Recovery is usually difficult because blockchain transactions generally cannot be reversed by the sender, but the platform may still want the wallet address or transaction ID for fraud records.
- Payment apps and peer-to-peer transfers — Contact the provider’s fraud or support team through the app. Protections vary, and some payments are treated as authorized transfers even when the relationship was fraudulent.
Beyond disputing specific transactions, ask your bank about account protection. You may need new card numbers, updated passwords, account monitoring, or fraud alerts, especially if you shared login credentials or personal information.
Step 5 — File a Local Police Report
What to do: Visit your local police department or call the non-emergency line to file a fraud report.
Where to go: Your local police station or their online reporting portal (many departments now accept reports online).
What to expect: Be honest about what happened. Local police may have limited ability to investigate an online romance scam that crosses jurisdictions, but filing can create an official paper trail that may be useful for insurance claims, bank disputes, or future legal proceedings.
How long it takes: 15–30 minutes in person, shorter online.
Bring your printed evidence — screenshots, transaction records, and the reference numbers from your FTC and IC3 reports. The more organized your information, the faster this goes.
What Happens After You Report
Set realistic expectations. Here is what the process typically looks like:
Your dating platform report may result in the profile being removed within days. You will likely not be notified when this happens.
Your FTC and IC3 reports enter federal reporting systems. If enough reports connect to the same operation, enforcement or investigative action may follow, but this can take time and you may never hear about it directly.
Your card issuer may resolve a credit card dispute within the timeline required for billing disputes. Wire, gift card, payment app, and crypto recovery timelines vary, and recovery is often difficult.
You may hear nothing from any agency. That is normal and does not mean your report was ignored. It means the system is working in the background, not in real time.
Individual reports can matter most when they connect with other reports. Your complaint may help agencies see patterns that one person could not see alone.
Watch Out for Recovery Scams
This is important: after being scammed, you may be contacted by someone claiming they can recover your money. They may say they are a lawyer, a private investigator, a government agent, or a specialist in fraud recovery. They will ask for an upfront fee.
This is often a secondary scam. Sometimes it is run by the same people who scammed you the first time; they know you lost money and are hoping to take more.
Red flags for recovery scams:
- Unsolicited contact (they reached out to you)
- Upfront fees required before any work begins
- Guarantees of full recovery
- Pressure to act quickly
Start with your bank, card issuer, payment provider, crypto platform, local police, or another qualified professional. Be very cautious of anyone who contacts you first, guarantees recovery, or asks for an upfront fee to “hack back” your money.
You Did the Right Thing
Reporting a romance scam takes courage. It means confronting something painful, organizing information you would rather forget, and taking a practical step even when the outcome is uncertain.
These scams are run by professionals. Being targeted does not reflect on your intelligence, your judgment, or your worth. It reflects on people who exploit human connection for profit.
You took action. That is more than most people manage.
What to Do Next
You have reported. Now take care of yourself, and keep your guard where it belongs — informed but not fearful.
- Review our online dating safety guide for a full overview of protecting yourself going forward.
- Before meeting anyone new, walk through the first date safety checklist.
- If you notice romance scam warning signs in another conversation, trust yourself. You know what to look for now.
This guide is general educational information, not legal, financial, cybersecurity, or recovery advice. If you need help recovering money, protecting accounts, or making a legal report, contact the relevant institution or a qualified professional directly.
You are not done dating. You are just better equipped to date with clearer boundaries and better support.