How to Report a Romance Scam to the FBI (IC3): Step by Step

[TLDR]

• Gather all evidence related to the scam, including communications, transaction records, and personal details of the scammer.
• File a detailed report with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) immediately.
• Notify your financial institutions, credit bureaus, and social media platforms to protect your assets and identity.
• Cease all contact with the scammer, block them across all platforms, and beware of recovery scams.
• Protect yourself from re-victimization by staying vigilant and utilizing identity verification services like TrustMatch for future interactions.

If you suspect you've been targeted by a romance scam, or if someone you're interacting with online is raising serious red flags, immediate action is critical. This guide explains exactly how to report a romance scam to the FBI (IC3) and protect yourself and others from financial and emotional harm, including using TrustMatch to verify identities.

1. Recognize the Romance Scam Red Flags

Before you report, confirm you’re dealing with a scam. Romance scammers quickly express strong emotions, promise future plans, and create urgent financial crises. They often refuse video calls, ask for money for emergencies, travel, or medical bills, and isolate you from friends and family. A scammer will always insist on secrecy and pressure you to send money through untraceable methods. Trust your gut if something feels off; these are classic indicators of fraudulent intent.

2. Stop All Communication Immediately

Cut off all contact with the suspected scammer. Block their phone numbers, email addresses, and social media accounts. Do not respond to any further messages, calls, or attempts to reach out. Continuing communication only provides them with more opportunities to manipulate you and prolong the scam. Your safety and financial well-being depend on ending the interaction decisively and completely.

3. Gather All Relevant Evidence

Compile every piece of information you have about the scammer and your interactions. This includes all communications: emails, text messages, chat logs from dating apps or social media, and voice messages. Document every financial transaction, including bank transfers, wire transfers, gift card purchases, cryptocurrency transactions, and receipts. Collect any images or videos they sent you, and note down their screen names, user IDs, and any phone numbers or email addresses they used. The more evidence you collect, the stronger your report will be.

4. Secure Your Financial Accounts

Contact your bank, credit card companies, and any financial institutions where you sent money or from which money was withdrawn. Explain that you are a victim of a romance scam. They may be able to freeze transactions, reverse payments, or flag your accounts for suspicious activity. Place a fraud alert or credit freeze with all three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) to prevent identity theft. Change passwords for all online accounts, especially email, banking, and social media.

5. File a Report with Your Local Police Department

Report the scam to your local police department. While local police often cannot directly investigate international romance scams, they can create an official police report. This report is crucial for your financial institutions and may be required by other agencies, including the FBI. Provide them with all the evidence you’ve gathered. Obtain a copy of the police report for your records.

6. Submit a Report to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)

Visit the FBI's IC3 website (ic3.gov) and initiate a new complaint. This is the primary federal agency for reporting online scams and cybercrimes in the United States. Provide as much detail as possible, using all the evidence you collected. Be thorough, accurate, and concise. Explain the timeline of events, how you met the scammer, the nature of your relationship, and all financial transactions involved. A 2023 FBI report indicated that romance scam losses exceeded $1 billion, highlighting the pervasive nature of this crime and the importance of every report.

7. Detail Your IC3 Complaint Accurately

When filing your IC3 report, organize your evidence logically. Start with the scammer's contact details and aliases, then chronologically detail your interactions. Explain every instance they requested money, how you sent it, and the amount. Attach all supporting documents: screenshots of conversations, transaction receipts, bank statements, and any other relevant files. Clearly state the total financial loss. An accurate and comprehensive report helps the FBI in their investigative efforts.

8. Notify Social Media and Dating Platforms

Report the scammer's profile to the platform where you first connected (e.g., Facebook, Instagram, Tinder, Bumble, Hinge). These platforms have policies against fraudulent activity and can remove the scammer’s account, preventing them from targeting new victims. Provide specific details and links to their profiles. This action helps protect the online community and disrupts the scammer's operations.

9. Contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

File a report with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. The FTC collects data on various types of fraud, including romance scams. While they may not investigate individual cases, their aggregated data helps identify trends, track scammers, and inform public awareness campaigns. Your report contributes to a larger effort to combat fraud and protect consumers nationwide.

10. Document All Actions Taken

Keep a detailed log of every step you take after identifying the scam. Record the date and time you contacted your bank, filed police reports, submitted IC3 and FTC complaints, and any reference numbers received. Note the names of the individuals you spoke with. This documentation is crucial for follow-up, potential recovery efforts, and provides a clear timeline of your actions should you need it later.

11. Consult with a Financial Advisor or Attorney

Seek professional advice regarding your financial recovery and legal options. A financial advisor can help you assess the damage to your finances and create a plan for rebuilding your savings and credit. An attorney specializing in fraud or victim's rights can advise you on potential legal recourse, although recovering funds from international scammers is often challenging. They can also assist with identity theft concerns.

12. Protect Your Identity

Since your personal information may have been compromised, take steps to protect your identity. Regularly monitor your credit reports for any unauthorized accounts or inquiries. Consider enrolling in an identity theft protection service that offers credit monitoring, dark web surveillance, and identity restoration support. Be cautious about sharing personal details online in the future.

13. Warn Friends and Family

Educate your close contacts about the dangers of romance scams. Share your experience (if you feel comfortable) and the red flags to watch out for. Scammers often target vulnerable individuals, and awareness is a powerful defense. Encourage them to be skeptical of online relationships that progress too quickly or involve requests for money.

14. Avoid Recovery Scams

Be extremely wary of anyone claiming they can help you recover your lost money for a fee. These are often "recovery scams" perpetrated by the original scammers or other criminals targeting previous victims. Do not pay anyone upfront to "recover" your funds. Legitimate law enforcement agencies or financial institutions will not ask for payment to assist with a fraud investigation or fund recovery.

15. Run a TrustMatch Check for Future Interactions

For any new online connections, run a TrustMatch check. Enter their first name and phone number (or email address) into the TrustMatch platform. In under a minute, receive a TrustScore and a verdict on their identity verification. This provides an objective layer of security, helping you assess the authenticity of a new contact before you invest time or emotion, and potentially protect yourself from future scams.

16. Understand What Happens After Your IC3 Report

After you submit your IC3 report, you will receive an email confirmation. The IC3 reviews complaints and refers potential criminal matters to federal, state, local, or international law enforcement agencies for investigation. While you might not receive individual updates on your case, your information contributes to a broader effort to track and prosecute cybercriminals. Be patient; investigations can take time.

Step	What to verify	Red flag if missing or inconsistent
Initial Communication Check	Consistent life story, clear identity, no urgent money requests, willingness to meet.	Evasive answers about background, immediate declarations of love, urgent financial pleas, refusal to meet in person or via video.
Video Call	Real person matching photos, live interaction, clear audio/video, genuine conversation.	Always "unavailable," poor connection excuses, camera malfunctions, pre-recorded videos, not matching photos.
TrustMatch Check	High TrustScore, public record match, consistent identity details.	Low TrustScore, mismatched public records, no verifiable online presence.
Reporting to IC3	All evidence documented, accurate details provided, timely submission.	Missing key communications, vague financial details, delaying the report for extended periods.
Financial Institution Notification	Timely contact with banks, transactions flagged/reversed, fraud alert placed.	Delay in reporting to bank, failure to place fraud alerts, inability to recall transaction specifics.

Red flags during this process

During the reporting process, remain vigilant for specific red flags that could indicate further threats. If you receive unsolicited contact from individuals claiming to be law enforcement or recovery agents asking for money to "expedite" your case, immediately block them. Legitimate agencies will never demand payment for an investigation. Be wary of any offer to "hack back" or retrieve your funds through illicit means; these are often scams designed to re-victimize you. Always verify the identity of anyone who contacts you regarding your case through official, known channels.

Quick Checklist for Reporting

1. Stop all contact with the scammer.
2. Collect and organize every piece of evidence.
3. Notify your financial institutions and place fraud alerts.
4. File a report with your local police department.
5. Submit a detailed complaint to the FBI's IC3 at ic3.gov.
6. Report the scammer to the FTC and relevant social media platforms.

These steps provide robust protection, ensuring you are doing everything possible to safeguard yourself and assist authorities. They protect you by revealing potential threats and respect the privacy of a real person by providing verifiable information, not surveillance.