Whether you've been targeted by a romance scam, sent money, or you're trying to help someone who has — these are resources we trust. They are not affiliated with TrustDate. Some are government, some are nonprofits, some are long-running community organizations. We list them because they help people.
Time matters. Recovery is hardest after the first three days. Do these in order, as fast as you can:
1. Contact your bank, wire service, or money-transfer provider and request an immediate stop or recall on the transfer.
2. If gift cards were sent, contact the card issuer's fraud line directly (the number is on the back of the card or on the issuer's website).
3. File a report at the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center: ic3.gov. The 72-hour window is when their financial fraud recovery team has the best chance.
4. File a parallel report at the FTC: reportfraud.ftc.gov.
Past 72 hours, all four still matter. Recovery becomes harder — not impossible. File anyway.
You can report a profile or interaction even if no money was sent. These reports feed federal investigations and platform fraud detection.
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
The primary federal channel for any internet crime, including romance scams. ic3.gov
Federal Trade Commission — Report Fraud
The FTC's consumer-protection reporting channel. reportfraud.ftc.gov
Your state Attorney General
Every state AG has a consumer-protection division that takes fraud reports. Find yours: naag.org/find-my-ag
The dating platform itself
Use the Report button on the profile. Platform reports are imperfect, but they feed the platform's internal fraud detection and can lead to a takedown that protects other users.
National Sex Offender Public Website
A free, government-run search across all U.S. state and territory sex offender registries. nsopw.gov
County clerk and court records
Most counties post civil and criminal court records online. Search "[county name] court records" to find the public portal in the area someone claims to live in.
Being targeted by a romance scam is disorienting — even when the money never moves. These communities help.
AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline
A free helpline run by trained volunteers. Available to anyone — AARP membership is not required.
Call 877-908-3360
Online resource library: aarp.org/money/scams-fraud
Scam Survivors
A long-running volunteer community for romance scam victims and their families. Free, no account required. scamsurvivors.com
r/Romancescam
A moderated subreddit where survivors, family members, and people in the middle of an active situation share evidence and advice. reddit.com/r/Romancescam
If someone you care about may be inside a romance scam, direct confrontation often backfires — the scammer has had months to position themselves as the only person who really understands. The AARP Fraud Watch Helpline (877-908-3360) can advise on how to approach the conversation. Trained volunteers have helped families through exactly this situation thousands of times.
Adult Protective Services (if an older adult was targeted)
Eldercare Locator connects you to your local APS office. eldercare.acl.gov or call 800-677-1116.