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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsIf someone you met online has tricked you into sending money or sharing account access, stop communicating with them, contact the payment provider you used, and report the scam to the FTC and the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). Save your messages and transaction records securely; IC3 does not accept file attachments. This guide covers U.S. reporting options and what to do next.
What to do first if you suspect a romance scam
- Stop all contact. Do not send more money or tell the suspected scammer that you are filing a report. The FBI advises victims to end contact immediately. See the FBI romance scams guidance.
- If you are in immediate danger, call 911 or your local police. For an urgent, time-sensitive matter, contact local law enforcement directly rather than waiting for IC3. IC3 reviews and routes complaints as appropriate, but says it does not investigate complaints or provide status updates. See IC3’s FAQ.
- Secure any exposed accounts. If you shared a bank or payment-account password, use that provider’s official recovery process, change the compromised password, and turn on two-factor authentication where available. Follow the FTC’s guidance for people who were scammed.
What to do if you already sent money
Contact the bank, payment service, card issuer, company, or carrier used to send it as soon as possible. Explain that a scammer induced the payment and ask whether it can be stopped, reversed, or refunded. Recovery is not guaranteed; keep any receipts, case numbers, and provider messages. The FTC’s payment-specific guidance outlines these routes:
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- Bank transfer or Zelle: Contact your bank or credit union immediately and ask it to reverse the transfer and refund the money.
- Payment app: Report the transfer to the app promptly and ask about reversal and refund options.
- Wire transfer: Contact the wire company immediately, explain the fraud, and ask for a refund.
- Credit or debit card: Contact the card issuer or bank promptly and ask about a refund.
- Gift card: Contact the card issuer, explain what happened, and ask about a refund. Keep the card and receipt.
- Cryptocurrency: Contact the exchange or ATM operator immediately, report the transaction, and ask whether reversal or a refund is possible. Crypto payments do not have the same legal protections as credit and debit card payments and can be difficult to recover.
- Cash sent by mail: Contact the U.S. Postal Inspection Service promptly. If you used another delivery company, contact that carrier as soon as possible.
Where to report a romance scam
Report it to the FTC
Submit a report at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. The FTC also recommends notifying the social networking site or app where you met the person. Use the platform’s report or safety tools to flag the profile and relevant messages. Its romance scam guidance explains these steps.
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The FBI directs romance scam victims to IC3. The report form asks for information such as your contact details, transaction dates and amounts, recipient, total loss, and identifiers for the subject—such as a name, phone number, email address, website, or IP address if known. It also asks for incident details and, when available, email headers. Give specific, truthful information and distinguish what you know directly from what you suspect. See IC3’s complaint guidance.
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IC3 and FTC reports serve different reporting channels; neither guarantees that an agency will investigate, reply, or reimburse you. The FBI’s romance scam page directs victims to IC3, while the FTC asks people to report suspected romance scams through its own portal.
Prepare before starting the IC3 form
The Department of Justice Office for Victims of Crime’s online victimization guide says the IC3 form is completed on a laptop or desktop, does not accept file uploads, and cannot be saved to resume later. Prepare the details in a separate document first so you can work through the form without losing your notes.
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After submitting, save or print the confirmation page and submission ID before closing it. IC3 says this is your only opportunity to retain a copy of the complaint and that it will not email it. If you later learn something important, file a new complaint and identify it as additional information. See the IC3 FAQ and the DOJ guide.
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What evidence to save
Keep original records in a secure place in case an agency later asks for them. IC3 says it does not collect evidence or accept attachments. You may paste information such as email headers into the complaint, but keep the original documents. IC3’s guidance on filing a complaint lists examples such as canceled checks; card, wire, cryptocurrency, money-order, and prepaid-card receipts; phone bills; emails; web pages; chat transcripts; and telephony logs. If you print an email, include its complete headers.
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This checklist can help you organize what you have; it is not a formal evidence standard:
- The profile name, username, profile URL, photos, and platform where contact began.
- Messages and call records. Keep them in the original app or export format when available; retain emails with full headers.
- Websites, domains, phone numbers, email addresses, wallet addresses, usernames, and payment handles the person used.
- Payment confirmations, receipts, account statements, card or wire records, gift-card details, and cryptocurrency transaction identifiers.
- A dated timeline of first contact, requests for money, payments, threats, and reports you have filed.
- Copies of reports and provider case or reference numbers, including your IC3 submission ID.
Use any secure storage method you can access; IC3 does not require a particular device or service. Avoid deleting original messages or account records while gathering copies.
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If the romance scam involved cryptocurrency
If the person steered the relationship into a purported investment, include the transaction details you have. For each payment, record the receiving wallet address, amount, cryptocurrency type, date and time, and transaction hash. Add the exchange used, the person’s contact details, relevant websites or apps, and your timeline. The FBI says to file even if you do not have the transaction details, and warns that offers to recover cryptocurrency may be another scam. See the FBI cryptocurrency scams guidance. Not every romance scam involves cryptocurrency.
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