Romance scammers build a relationship before asking for money, gifts or access to an account. They may use someone else's photographs, a detailed backstory and weeks of conversation. A video call or verified profile is useful context but is not proof that a person's story or request is safe.
Notice the pattern, not just the profile
- Strong feelings arrive quickly, but an in-person meeting is repeatedly postponed.
- The conversation moves away from the dating platform, making the account harder to report.
- An emergency appears: travel, medical bills, a parcel fee or trouble while working abroad.
- They ask for a wire transfer, gift card, cryptocurrency or access to a payment account. They may instead propose an “investment” on a site they introduce.
One sign alone does not establish fraud. A request for money from a person you know only online is the point to stop and independently check the story. The US Federal Trade Commission documents the relationship-building and payment patterns.
A practical check before sending anything
- Tell a trusted friend what the person has asked for, including any request for secrecy or urgency.
- Search the person's name and images. A reverse-image match to another identity is a warning; no match is not a safety certificate.
- Keep the conversation and any report inside the dating app where possible. Do not open a financial account, receive money for the person or share identity documents because of the relationship.
- Do not send money or gifts to an online love interest you have not met in person. Treat a sudden investment opportunity the same way.
If you have sent money or private images
Stop paying and preserve the profile, messages, payment records and account names. Contact your bank or payment provider promptly and ask whether a transfer can be stopped or reversed. Report the account to the dating app. Be wary of anyone who promises to recover money for a fee; a second payment can deepen the loss.
For financial cyber fraud in India, call 1930 promptly or report through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal. In the US, use ReportFraud.ftc.gov. In England, Wales or Northern Ireland, use Report Fraud; in Scotland, contact Police Scotland via 101. If someone threatens to share intimate images, report the threat to the platform and your local police or cybercrime authority as well.
Being targeted is not a personal failure. A trusted person can help you decide what to do next without judgment.
Related guidance and sources
For planning an in-person date, read our dating safety checklist. The FTC romance-scam guide explains common stories and payment requests. Reporting routes were checked against India's cybercrime portal and UK Report Fraud on 3 October 2026 by the MyDealNinja editorial team. MyDealNinja may earn from some links elsewhere on the site; this safety guide does not recommend a paid product.
