Romance Scam Recovery Services

To test if a relationship is genuine, do three simple things:

• Say early on that you have no money to invest or spare—repeat it, and a scammer will likely disappear.
• Insist on meeting in person or via video call—scammers will make excuses and eventually vanish.
• Share the person’s details with trusted friends or family—a real partner won’t mind, but a scammer will back off.

Although there is no specific crime called “romance scamming” under UK law, or indeed scamming in general, it is treated as theft. Under English law, theft is defined as the dishonest appropriation (taking) of someone else’s property (including money), with the intention of permanently depriving them of it.

That means until money has actually been stolen, no criminal offence has technically been committed. It’s not illegal to lie online or pretend to have romantic feelings. This makes proving criminal intent difficult, especially if the scam is disguised as a request for a loan with a promise to repay.

However, if a scammer is working with others and planning to steal money, such as through a fake investment scheme managed by the accomplices, this could amount to conspiracy to steal, which is a criminal offence even if the money hasn’t yet been stolen.

An exception can arise where a scammer is working with accomplices and has already planned how the money will be stolen. For example, a fake investment scheme has been created before any money is transferred. In those circumstances, the planning itself may amount to conspiracy to steal.

There’s no fixed timeframe for how long a romance scam can last.

As they vary in the platform used and the methods employed, some scams last a few days, others drag on for several months.

It depends on how quickly the scammer can gain the victim’s trust and persuade them to send money. If that doesn’t happen early on, the scammer may continue the deception—sometimes for months—if they believe the victim may eventually give in. But if they sense the victim won’t transfer funds, they typically disappear without warning.

There are a few simple actions you can take to test whether an online romance is genuine:

• Mention you have no money – Early in the relationship, say you have no money to invest or spare income. Repeat it. If it’s a scam, the fraudster will likely disappear.
• Push to meet in person or on video – Insist on a face-to-face or video call. If they keep cancelling or making excuses, persist. Scammers usually vanish when pressured.
• Tell friends or family – Share their details with someone you trust. A real partner won’t mind. A scammer won’t want outside scrutiny and will often cut contact.

Act fast. If you realise you’ve been scammed:

• Cut off contact – Stop all communication with the scammer immediately.
• Report the profile – Tell the dating app or platform where you met them so they can remove the fake account.
• Notify your bank – Let your bank know right away. They may be able to stop or trace recent payments, especially if the transfer was within the UK.
• Report to the police – Contact Action Fraud, the UK’s national fraud reporting unit. Although, the vast majority of fraudsters evade detection (especially if operating from abroad), the earlier you act, the better the chance of recovering funds or preventing others from falling victim.

It’s very important to report a romance scam quickly—especially to your Bank.

According to Authorised Push Payment (APP) scam rules, you may be eligible for a refund if your bank believes the scam meets certain criteria. One key requirement is that you report it promptly.

• Report to your bank – As soon as you suspect fraud, contact your bank. They might still be able to reverse the transaction—particularly if the funds were sent to a UK account.
• Report to Action Fraud – This is the UK’s official fraud reporting centre. You can report online at actionfraud.police.uk or by phone.

There are three practical steps you can take. First, explain that you have no money to invest and no spare disposable income. Repeat this several times and a scammer will often disappear. Second, insist on meeting in person or at least by video call. Third, share the person’s details with family and friends. A genuine romantic partner will welcome this, while a scammer will often become uncomfortable or disappear.