Every Friday, Kay Reports uncovers global dating scams, emotional red flags, and digital deception, so you can date smarter, not harder.
You sent money to a scammer. The next 24 hours matter most.
A calm, step-by-step checklist for the US, UK, India and Australia.
Quick answer
If you sent money to a romance scammer, stop paying, then call your bank or payment provider right away and tell them it was fraud. Ask them to reverse or recall the payment. After that, report it to your national fraud service. The first hour matters most, because money is hardest to recover once it has moved.
Maybe you found out an hour ago. Maybe your stomach dropped and you have not told anyone yet.
This edition is for that hour. Do the steps in order, and save the rest for later.
One UK police fraud bulletin estimates that only about 7% of romance fraud victims report it, and possibly fewer. Most stay quiet because they feel embarrassed.
Shame is the last thing a scammer takes from you, and it costs the most. Every hour you stay quiet lowers your chance of getting money back.
Step 1 · Right now
Stop and save the evidence
Do not send more money and do not confront them. Screenshot the chat, the profile, your payment receipts and any wallet addresses. Screenshot before you block. Then block them.
Step 2 · First hour
Call whoever you paid through
Card: ask your card issuer to dispute the charge.
Bank transfer or wire: tell your bank it was fraud and ask them to recall or reverse it.
Western Union, MoneyGram or a payment app: contact the company and report it as fraud.
Gift cards: call the issuer on the number printed on the card. Keep the card and the receipt.
Crypto: payments usually cannot be reversed, but contact the exchange or ATM operator straight away and ask what they can do.
UK: dial 159 to reach your bank's fraud team. India: call 1930 at the same time.
Step 3 · Within 24 hours
Report it officially
Reports help police link the same accounts and phone numbers across many victims. Where to report in your country is just below.
Where to report
🇺🇸 United States: report to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. For internet crime you can also report to the FBI at ic3.gov. If you shared ID details, go to IdentityTheft.gov.
🇬🇧 United Kingdom: call your bank first on 159. Then report to Report Fraud, which replaced Action Fraud, at reportfraud.police.uk or on 0300 123 2040. In Scotland, call Police Scotland on 101. Ask your bank whether you can claim under the UK push-payment fraud reimbursement rules.
🇮🇳 India: call the national cyber fraud helpline 1930 (24 hours), then file a complaint at cybercrime.gov.in. Indian police call the first hours the golden hour, when accounts can still be frozen.
🇦🇺 Australia: tell your bank, then report to ReportCyber at cyber.gov.au and to Scamwatch at scamwatch.gov.au. IDCARE gives free support on 1800 595 160.
🌍 Elsewhere: your bank first, then your national fraud reporting centre and local police.
Step 4 · Today
Lock down your accounts
Change passwords on any account you shared or reuse, turn on two-step verification, and check your bank for activity you do not recognise. If you sent ID documents, use the identity support service for your country (IdentityTheft.gov in the US, IDCARE in Australia).
Step 5 · This week
Tell one person
A friend, a family member, a counsellor. Secrecy is how the scam kept going, so telling someone matters as much as the paperwork.
Watch out for the second scam
After a first scam, some victims are contacted by "recovery" services. Three red flags:
🚩 They guarantee you will get the money back. No one can promise that.
🚩 They ask for a fee upfront. Authorities warn that paying in advance to recover money is a recovery scam.
🚩 They contacted you first. Genuine support services, such as IDCARE in Australia, say they never contact people out of the blue.
Quick questions
Can you get money back after a romance scam?
Sometimes. It depends on how you paid and how fast you act. Card and bank payments are often easier to challenge than crypto, which usually cannot be reversed. The FTC says your money might be gone, but it is always worth asking the company you paid.
Who do I report to first?
Your bank or payment provider, because that is where recovery happens. Then your national fraud service.
How long do I have?
Do not wait. Recovery is far more likely in the first hours, so make the bank call before anything else.
Is it my fault?
No. Romance scams are run by professionals who have practised on many people. I wrote about why smart people fall for them here.
The Kay Reports rule
Report first, feel embarrassed later. The scammer is counting on the other order.
If they are threatening to share private images, that is a different situation. Read our sextortion guide instead.
Some of these scams start with a simple request to leave the app, as last week's edition on the WhatsApp move showed. And the case of a repeat romance fraudster back on a dating app within days shows why reporting matters.
Save this edition and forward it to one person who dates online. If a friend ever says "I think I just got scammed", you will know exactly what to send.
Hit reply and tell me what you wish you had known sooner. I read every response.
Last updated 30 October 2026. Reporting contacts were checked against official sources on that date. Services change, so confirm details on the official site.
Kay Reports. Date smarter, not harder. Every Friday. kayreports.com
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