How to report a romance scammer, and what to do next

If a match from a dating app turned out to be a scammer, you did nothing shameful, and there is a lot you can do today. A friend or parent can help with every step.

Short answer: To report a romance scammer, stop sending money and stop replying, then save the profile, the chat and every receipt before you unmatch. Call your bank, card issuer or payment app the same day and ask them to reverse the payment. Then report the profile to the dating app, file a report at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, and file a complaint with the FBI at ic3.gov. If you are in danger, call 911.

Where to report a romance scam

Step 1: Stop paying and stop replying

The FTC says: "Stop communicating with the person immediately." Don't send one more payment.

Don't confront them, and don't tell them you are going to report them. Bumble says "Don't confront the person as this could put your physical safety at risk." IC3, the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center, warned in July 2026 that some victims who told scammers they would go to the FBI were later contacted by someone pretending to be an FBI agent on Facebook Messenger.

The FTC also says "Talk to someone you trust." They can help with the calls below.

Step 2: Save the evidence before you unmatch

Unmatching can wipe the chat, so screenshot first. From each app's help page, read October 21, 2026:

• Hinge: "once you unmatch, the conversation will disappear, and you won't be able to message that person again." Reporting from Matches also removes the match at once.
• Bumble: "the chat and match will be removed immediately, and you can't undo this".
• Match: "Swiping left on a message will un-match you with that profile and delete your messages with that person."
• Tinder: the match disappears from both lists, and Tinder says "this action is permanent and can't be reversed."

Bumble's advice is to "Keep screenshots, usernames, receipts, dates, and amounts." Save the profile photos and bio, and the whole chat, including anywhere it moved, such as WhatsApp. Keep every receipt and the phone numbers and emails they used. IC3 doesn't take attachments, so keep the originals safe in case an agency asks for them.

Step 3: Call your bank or payment app today

The FTC says "your money might be gone already. But it's always worth asking the company you used to send the money if there's a way to get it back." Use a number from the company's own app or the back of your card, as Bumble advises, never one the scammer gave you.

The FTC's steps for each way of paying:

• Zelle or a bank transfer: "Report it to your bank or credit union immediately," the FTC says, and ask them "to reverse the payment and refund your money."
• Credit or debit card: report it to the card issuer or bank right away, using the number on the back of your card or the issuer's app.
• Payment app like Venmo, Cash App or PayPal: report it to the payment app immediately.
• Western Union or MoneyGram: report it to the company immediately and "Tell them a scammer tricked you into sending money."
• Gift cards: "Contact the gift card issuer immediately." Keep the card and the receipt.
• Cryptocurrency: "Contact the cryptocurrency exchange or ATM operator immediately." Crypto lacks the legal protections cards have, the FTC's What To Do if You Were Scammed page (dated June 2026) warns.
• Cash by mail: "Contact the U.S. Postal Inspection Service at 1-877-876-2455 immediately." For a fee, they can intercept the package.

For a wire, the FBI's IC3 says "If wire transfers were sent, request a recall and a hold harmless letter from your financial institutions." The OCC, the federal bank regulator, warns that a recall does not always work.

If you sent money abroad in the last half hour through a money transfer company (a remittance transfer provider), the CFPB (page last reviewed October 3, 2024) says you may be able to cancel it at no cost if you paid less than 30 minutes ago, the money hasn't been picked up, and you give enough information to identify the transfer. Call the company now.

About refund rules. The CFPB (page last reviewed August 28, 2026) says that for an unauthorized transaction, "a charge or withdrawal you didn't make or allow," the bank "generally has ten business days to investigate the issue (20 business days if the account has been open less than 30 days)". It says to notify the bank within 60 days of a statement that shows one. No official page we read says a payment you sent yourself, because a scammer lied to you, counts. So ask, keep a log of who you spoke to, and don't count on a refund.

Both CFPB rules above are general information and are not legal advice.

If the bank or payment company won't help, you can send a complaint to the CFPB at consumerfinance.gov. It says "Most companies respond within 15 days."

Step 4: Report the profile to the dating app

A report can stop the same person writing to the next match. All four big apps keep reports private.

• Tinder and Match: open the profile or the chat, "Tap the 3 dots in the top right corner" and tap Report.
• Hinge: tap the three dots, tap Report, and pick a reason. Hinge says "Reporting is a confidential and permanent action."
• Bumble: open the profile, scroll to the bottom and select report, or block and report. Bumble says your report is private and anonymous, and the person won't know you reported them.

Already unmatched? You can still report. Hinge says "you can still always submit a report directly to our team", and its Past Matches list holds people from the past 30 days for some users. Bumble says "You can make a report even if you're no longer using our app."

Step 5: Report to the FTC and the FBI's IC3

File both. Neither replaces the call to your bank.

ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Your report is shared "with over 2,000 law enforcers." The FTC adds: "We can't resolve your individual report, but we use reports to investigate and bring cases against fraud, scams, and bad business practices."

The FBI's IC3 at ic3.gov. Analysts review complaints and pass them to law enforcement and partner agencies. IC3's FAQ and its July 2026 alert ask for the date and amount of each payment, the account numbers, who received the money and their bank, any crypto addresses, the names, emails and phone numbers the scammer used, and how contact started.

For crypto, IC3 says "The most important information you can provide are transaction details," meaning the wallet addresses, the amount and type of crypto, the date and time, and the transaction ID (hash). No records? File anyway.

The form tells you not to enter Social Security numbers or dates of birth. At the end, save or print a copy. IC3 says "This is the only time you will be able to retain a copy of your complaint".

If the scammer seems to be abroad, you can also report at econsumer.gov, a partnership of more than 65 consumer protection agencies around the world.

Step 6: Watch for recovery scams

The FTC calls refund and recovery scams "the worst of the worst: scams that target people who have already lost money to a scam." Why you? "Scammers buy lists of people who've paid scammers."

A recovery scam can look like a law firm, a crypto recovery service, or someone claiming to be from the FBI, the FTC or IC3. IC3 warned about fake law firms in August 2025: "There are no law firms which are officially authorized partners of US Government agencies." These fakes may even know the exact amounts and dates of your earlier transfers.

• "Never pay upfront for a refund or help with a refund," the FTC says.
• IC3 says it "will never ask for payment to recover lost funds" and doesn't do this through Facebook, Telegram or similar apps.
• IC3 warned in July 2026 about a fake IC3 website promoted with AI-made videos. IC3 says to type www.ic3.gov into the address bar yourself, rather than using a search engine.

If someone offers to get your money back for a fee, the FTC says to report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to your state attorney general.

Helping a parent or friend

You can file for them. IC3 says "You may also file on behalf of another person you believe has been affected by a cyber-enabled crime." The CFPB accepts a complaint on someone's behalf if you say how you know them. It adds that companies may require signed, written proof that the person gave you permission.

If they don't believe it was a scam yet, AARP's advice is to go slowly. Gerontologist Marti DeLiema told AARP: "Avoid making accusations and placing blame. Otherwise, they're just going to shut you down and tune you out." Let them tell you what happened, then point out what doesn't add up. AARP's Amy Nofziger says you might never fully convince them.

Two helplines:

• The AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline at 877-908-3360, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET. AARP says it offers guidance and support, but does not investigate or recover money.
• The Justice Department's National Elder Fraud Hotline at 833-FRAUD-11 (833-372-8311), for fraud against anyone 60 or older, Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. eastern time. "You will reach a case manager who will help you through the reporting process at the federal, state, and local levels." Scammers pretend to be from the hotline too, so call it yourself.

To talk through the signs together, see signs of a romance scammer and military romance scams.

What happens after you report

Expect quiet. IC3's FAQ says "You will not hear from the IC3." It doesn't investigate cases or give status updates; the agencies it passes your complaint to decide that. If an agency needs more, IC3's July 2026 alert says contact will come from "FBI employees from local field offices or other law enforcement officers," never from "IC3" on social media or chat.

To add details, IC3 says to file a new complaint that says it adds to your earlier one. If your case is time sensitive, contact local police directly.

Some money does get stopped. IC3's 2025 Internet Crime Report says its Recovery Asset Team, which works with banks to freeze fraudulent transfers, helped freeze $679,013,183 in 2025, 58% of the money at stake in the 3,900 cases it acted on. The report says most of the team's past cases were business email compromise, with more tech support and account takeover cases in 2025, and it gives no romance figure.

Then look after yourself. Bumble's page on romance fraud says "The person who deceived you is responsible, not you." The Justice Department's Office for Victims of Crime says "Many crimes go unreported because victims are scared, embarrassed, or don't know who to call."

Shared your number or email? Secure your accounts with our guides on your phone number and your email address.

Before your next match

When you are ready to date again, TrulyWho checks a match's public accounts, photos and work from an email or phone in about a minute. It is not a consumer reporting agency and can't be used for jobs, credit, housing or any other FCRA purpose.

FAQ

Where do I report a romance scammer?

Call your bank, card issuer or payment app first, the same day, and ask them to reverse the payment. Then report the profile to the dating app, file a report with the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, and file a complaint with the FBI's IC3 at ic3.gov. If your case is time sensitive, contact local police directly, and ask for a report number. If you are in danger, call 911.

Can a romance scammer be traced?

Sometimes, by law enforcement. IC3 says crypto payments are recorded on public blockchains, so "law enforcement can trace cryptocurrency transactions to follow money in ways not possible with other financial systems." Crypto that moves to exchanges abroad is much harder for US law enforcement to follow, IC3 says. Put the transaction details in your IC3 report and leave the rest to them.

Can I get my money back from a romance scammer?

Maybe, with no promise. Ask the company you paid through, such as your bank, card issuer or payment app, the same day. The FTC's What To Do if You Were Scammed page (dated June 2026) says federal law protects you from unauthorized use of your credit or debit card, and that crypto lacks the legal protections cards have. No official page we read says a payment you were tricked into sending counts as unauthorized, so ask and don't count on it. This is general information, not legal advice. Never pay upfront for recovery help, the FTC says.

How do I convince a loved one they are being scammed?

Go slowly and don't blame them. Gerontologist Marti DeLiema, quoted by AARP, says accusations make people shut you down, so let them tell the story, then point out what doesn't add up. AARP's Amy Nofziger adds that you might never fully convince them. You can still file an IC3 complaint on their behalf, and the AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline at 877-908-3360 can guide you. If they are 60 or older, the Justice Department's National Elder Fraud Hotline at 833-372-8311 helps with reporting.

Will the FBI contact me after I file an IC3 complaint?

Probably not. IC3 says you will not hear from IC3 itself, because it doesn't investigate cases or give status updates; the agencies it passes your complaint to decide that. Any follow-up comes from an FBI field office or other police. IC3 says it never contacts people by phone, email, social media, phone apps or online chat, so treat anyone claiming to be IC3 that way as an impostor.

How do you expose a romance scammer?

Report them, don't confront them. Bumble warns that confronting a scammer could put your safety at risk, and IC3 has seen scammers re-target victims who said they would report them. A report to the app can get the profile removed, and the FTC uses reports to build cases.