How to Report a Romance Scam in the UK: Step-by-Step Guide

💡Report to Action Fraud (0300 123 2040), contact your bank immediately to stop payments, report the profile to the dating platform, and preserve all evidence.

If you believe you've been targeted by a romance scam — or if you've already sent money — acting quickly gives you the best chance of stopping further loss and potentially recovering funds. This step-by-step guide covers exactly what to do, who to contact, and in what order.

Time matters. The faster you report to your bank, the higher the chance of intercepting or reversing payments. Every hour of delay reduces the likelihood of recovery, as scammers move funds through multiple accounts rapidly.

💡Contact your bank first to stop payments, then report to Action Fraud, report the profile on the dating platform, and preserve all evidence.

Step 1: Contact your bank immediately. Call your bank's fraud line (usually on the back of your card) and explain the situation. Request that they attempt to recall or freeze any payments made to the scammer. Under the Contingent Reimbursement Model (CRM) Code, many UK banks have committed to reimbursing victims of authorised push payment (APP) fraud in certain circumstances. If you paid by credit card, you may have additional protection under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974.

Step 2: Preserve all evidence. Before the scammer deletes their profile or messages, screenshot everything: their profile (including all photos), every message, their phone number if shared, email addresses, any payment references, and any links they sent you. Save these to a secure location. This evidence will be needed by Action Fraud, your bank, and potentially the police.

Step 3: Report to Action Fraud. Action Fraud is the UK's national fraud and cybercrime reporting centre. You can report by phone (0300 123 2040, Monday–Friday 8am–8pm) or online at actionfraud.police.uk. You'll receive a crime reference number — keep this for your bank and any further correspondence.

Step 4: Report to the dating platform. Every dating platform has a report function. On Smooch, use the in-profile report button or email safety@smooch.com directly. Reporting helps the platform remove the scammer's account and prevent them from targeting others.

Step 5: Report to the police. While Action Fraud handles national coordination, you should also report to your local police force if the scammer has personal information about you (address, workplace), if you feel in danger, or if you want a local investigation alongside the national one. Call 101, or 999 if you feel in immediate danger.

Step 6: Contact Victim Support. Victim Support (0808 168 9111) provides confidential emotional and practical support. Being targeted by a romance scam is a traumatic experience — you deserve support regardless of whether money was lost.

Step	Action	Who to Contact	Priority
1	Stop all payments immediately	Your bank's fraud team	URGENT — do this first
2	Preserve all evidence	Yourself — screenshots, downloads	URGENT — before deletion
3	Report to Action Fraud	0300 123 2040 / actionfraud.police.uk	Within 24 hours
4	Report the profile on the platform	Platform's report/safety function	Within 24 hours
5	Report to your local police	101 (or 999 if in danger)	As needed
6	Contact Victim Support	0808 168 9111 (free, confidential)	When you're ready

💡Screenshot all messages, profile photos, email addresses, phone numbers, payment references, and any links shared — before the scammer deletes their account.

Evidence is critical. Without it, investigations are significantly harder and money recovery becomes less likely. The moment you suspect a scam, start preserving everything before the scammer has a chance to delete their accounts and messages.

Use your phone's screenshot function to capture full conversations, profile pages (including the URL if visible), and any photos they shared. Download bank statements showing payments made. If they sent you links to websites or investment platforms, screenshot those too — they may be taken offline quickly.

Evidence Type	Where to Find It	How to Preserve	Why It Matters
Profile screenshots	Dating platform	Screenshot (include URL)	Identifies fake identity
All messages	Platform / WhatsApp / email	Screenshot or export	Shows manipulation pattern
Profile photos	Dating platform	Save images / screenshot	Reverse image search
Phone numbers	Call/message history	Note all numbers used	Traceable by police
Email addresses	Your inbox	Note all addresses used	Traceable by police
Payment records	Bank statements, crypto wallet	Download statements	Required for investigation
Links shared	Message history	Screenshot with URLs	May lead to fake sites
Social media profiles	Facebook, Instagram, etc.	Screenshot including URL	May reveal connected accounts

💡Recovery depends on payment method — bank transfers may be recoverable under the CRM Code, credit card payments have Section 75 protection, but cryptocurrency is rarely recoverable.

The honest answer is: it depends. Your chances of recovery vary significantly based on how you paid. UK bank transfers offer the best prospect, particularly if reported quickly and if both the sending and receiving banks are CRM Code signatories.

Important warning: Be wary of "recovery scams." After reporting a romance scam, some victims are contacted by people claiming to be recovery specialists who can get their money back — for a fee. This is almost always a second scam targeting the same victim. Legitimate recovery processes happen through your bank and law enforcement, not through private companies that charge upfront fees.

The CRM Code is voluntary and not all banks are signatories. Contact your bank to understand their specific policy.

Payment Method	Recovery Mechanism	Likelihood	Time Frame
UK bank transfer	CRM Code reimbursement	Moderate — varies by bank	15–35 business days
Credit card	Section 75 / chargeback	Good	30–120 days
Debit card	Chargeback	Moderate	30–120 days
Cryptocurrency	No standard mechanism	Very low	Variable / unlikely
Gift cards	Contact retailer	Very low (redeemed instantly)	Variable
Wire transfer (international)	Contact sending bank	Low	Variable
Cash (collected in person)	Police report	Very low	Variable

💡Multiple organisations offer emotional support, practical advice, and advocacy for romance scam victims — all services are confidential.

Being targeted by a romance scam is not a reflection of your intelligence or judgment. These are sophisticated, targeted crimes run by professional criminals who manipulate human emotions for profit. Seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness.

The emotional impact of romance fraud — betrayal, shame, depression, loss of trust — can be as damaging as the financial loss. The organisations below provide confidential support tailored to fraud victims, and all services are free.

Organisation	Contact	Services
Victim Support	0808 168 9111	Emotional support, practical help, advocacy
Action Fraud	0300 123 2040	Crime reporting, investigation referral
Citizens Advice	citizensadvice.org.uk	Financial and legal guidance
Samaritans	116 123 (24/7)	Emotional support if distressed
Think Jessica	thinkjessica.com	Specialist scam victim support
Age UK	0800 169 6565	Support for older victims

💡Multi-layered verification at registration makes it significantly harder for scammers to create fake profiles, reducing the number of victims before the first message is sent.

The most effective defence against romance scams is prevention. Smooch's five-layer verification — government ID, credit card, email validation, AI photo detection, and human moderation — creates multiple barriers that a scammer must overcome to create even a single fake profile.

On unverified platforms, a scammer can create dozens of accounts in hours. On Smooch, each account requires independently verifiable real-world credentials. The economics of scamming simply don't work when every fake profile requires a stolen government ID, a valid credit card, an established email, real photos, and the ability to pass human review.

Prevention is always better than reporting. While this guide helps you respond effectively if you've been targeted, choosing a verified platform in the first place significantly reduces the risk of ever needing it.