Stop sending money to an online relationship you suspect is fraudulent. Save the profile and payment records, contact the provider used to pay, and report the account to the dating or social platform. Talk with someone you trust before responding to another request.
Warning signs to take seriously
The FTC describes scammers who build trust through frequent messages, avoid meeting, and then ask for money for travel, medical care, or an urgent problem. Some introduce a supposed cryptocurrency investment.
- They repeatedly need money before a promised visit can happen.
- They tell you to use gift cards, transfers, or cryptocurrency.
- They steer conversations off the original platform.
- Their profile images or personal details do not match information you can verify.
A reverse image search may reveal a reused photo. No match does not establish that the person is genuine.
Pause payments and seek support
- Stop the next payment, even if the person says you will lose earlier funds or damage the relationship.
- Talk through the requests with a trusted friend or family member.
- Preserve the profile, messages, payment instructions, and transaction references.
- Report the account to the platform, then block further contact.
Keep your report focused on what the person requested and what you sent. You do not need to prove the person’s real identity before asking your payment provider for help.
After sending money or sharing information
Use our payment and account recovery guide to choose the correct provider. Explain the deception and ask whether any payment can be stopped or reversed. Do not promise yourself a refund based on a recovery offer from someone you do not know.
If you shared account credentials or identity documents, take the relevant account-security and identity-protection steps as well.
Report the suspected scam
Report suspected fraud at the FTC’s official ReportFraud website. Also notify the platform where the contact or listing appeared. A fraud report does not replace contacting your payment provider or securing an affected account.
Include the platform, profile name and URL, contact details used, payment method, and dates. Keep intimate or sensitive material out of public posts. Use official reporting channels for any evidence they request.
Common questions
Can a long relationship still involve fraud?
Yes. Scammers may spend time building trust before requesting money. Review the payment requests and facts you can verify.
Can the platform refund what I sent elsewhere?
Do not assume that it can. Contact the payment provider as well as reporting the profile.
Should I pay someone who promises to recover the money?
Treat unsolicited recovery promises and upfront-fee demands as warning signs. Work through verified providers and authorities.
Keep going
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Sources and page information
Official source links checked September 26, 2026. Requirements can change; use the relevant agency’s current instructions.
- FTC: What To Know About Romance Scams
- FTC: What To Do if You Were Scammed
- FTC: Refund and Recovery Scams
Prepared with AI assistance. Examples and worksheets are illustrative. This is general information, not legal advice. We do not submit complaints, determine eligibility, or guarantee a result.