Sent Money to a Romance Scammer? What to Do Now
Stop further payments and contact your bank or payment provider promptly. You do not need a perfectly organised case before asking for help.
You may still miss the person, want an explanation or hope there has been a mistake. You can feel all of that and still protect yourself now. This checklist is about the next practical decisions. It cannot promise that a payment will be recovered, and you do not have to be certain about the whole relationship before speaking to your bank.
Report a scam in your country
If money or banking details are at risk, contact your bank or payment provider promptly using a trusted contact route.
Choose a country to see its official reporting options.
These links open external official services. Reporting does not guarantee an investigation or a refund. If anyone is in immediate danger, use your local emergency number; online reports are not an emergency service.
In this guide · 6 sections
1. Contact the provider used for the payment
Tell your bank or payment provider that you suspect fraud, using its usual app, the number on your card or a website you find independently. Say when you paid, how much, how you paid and what you were told the payment was for.
Do this before spending hours organising screenshots. A simple opening is: “I met someone online and sent money. I now think it may be a romance scam. Can you help me stop any further loss and explain the next steps?” Ask for a case reference and note what you are advised.
2. Stop negotiating over the next payment
You might be told that one last transfer will resolve the problem, or that stopping contact will make the earlier money impossible to recover. You do not have to keep paying to remain entitled to ask for help.
Do not use the conversation to investigate the person or attempt to trap them. If you feel threatened, seek police help; in the UK, use 999 for an immediate emergency (elsewhere, use your local emergency number). Your safety takes priority over obtaining a confession or explanation.
3. Keep a simple record of what you already have
Make one folder or note for the information you can access safely. You are organising your own records, not trying to trace someone else's private life. Start small and add detail later if your bank or the reporting service asks for it.
- Dates, amounts, payment methods and transaction references.
- The profile name, username and platform you used.
- Relevant messages explaining why money was requested.
- Website addresses and contact details supplied to you.
- Your bank or payment-provider case reference and the advice received.
4. Protect any account information you exposed
The NCSC's guidance explains what to do after sharing sensitive information, including contacting your bank if you supplied banking details. If a password was disclosed, change it through the real service and change any other account using the same password.
Use official account-recovery guidance if you cannot sign in. Do not follow a new “security help” link sent by the person you suspect. Let your bank know about any account access or remote-control software involved, not just the money transfer.
5. Make a report through the appropriate UK route
Report Fraud provides the police reporting route for England, Wales and Northern Ireland. In Scotland, contact Police Scotland on 101. Report the profile to the platform as well, after retaining any records you can safely keep.
Write what happened in everyday language. You do not need legal terminology or an AI-generated verdict. For example: “We met on this app, they asked me to pay for this reason, and I made these payments.” Avoid editing an original message to make it fit a theory.
6. Keep recovery promises separate from real support
Be wary of unsolicited contacts promising to recover the money in exchange for a fee. The FCA describes this as a recovery-room scam. Do not give a new contact more money or account access because they appear to know about the first loss.
You can also ask someone you trust to help with the calls or sit beside you while you make a report. Tell them what would help: listening, taking notes or staying with you. Being deceived does not mean that you deserved the loss, and you do not have to resolve the emotional side before taking practical action.
Useful official resources
For safety and fraud topics, these external resources provide additional specialist guidance. Echo Pro is not affiliated with them.
- NCSC — If you shared sensitive information
Practical steps after sharing passwords, banking details or other sensitive information.
- Report Fraud — Make a report
Reporting for England, Wales and Northern Ireland; Scotland uses Police Scotland on 101.
- FCA — Recovery room scams
Warning about unsolicited offers to recover losses for an upfront fee.
Tools for this guide
Want a second opinion on your own situation?
For non-urgent reflection, Echo Pro can help you think through pressure in a conversation. It cannot verify identity, assess an investment or recover money. Use the official safety and reporting steps first.
Echo Pro provides AI-generated estimates and guidance, not facts about another person's intentions. Use it as a second opinion alongside your own judgement and real-world context.