Romance Scams in the UK: Warning Signs and What to Do
By Michael Reed, Founder of DateSteady. Updated October 2026.
A romance scam can start on any dating site or social network. This page explains the warning signs of a romance scam, the rules that protect you, and exactly what to do in the UK if it happens to you or someone you know.
What is a romance scam?
A romance scam is when someone builds an online relationship to win your trust and then uses it to take your money. The scammer poses as a potential partner, invests weeks or months in the conversation, and then produces a crisis, an "opportunity" or travel costs that need money from you.
The warning signs of a romance scam
- Love too fast. Strong declarations of love within days, before you have met.
- Always a reason not to video call. A broken camera, a bad connection, shyness: anything to avoid showing a live face.
- A life you cannot check. An overseas job, an oil rig, a military posting, or a story that does not quite add up.
- Pressure to leave the app. A quick push to move to text, WhatsApp or email, away from moderation.
- The ask. Eventually, money: for an emergency, customs fees, travel to see you, or an "investment".
The rules that protect you
- If someone you met online asks for money, treat it as a scam. A partner you have never met in person does not need your money.
- Never send money, gift cards or cryptocurrency to someone you have not met in person.
- Keep conversations on the app until you trust the person. Moderation and scam detection only work where the conversation happens.
- Insist on a live video call before any in-person meeting.
- Do not share your home address, bank details or intimate images with someone you have not met.
- Report and block at the first red flag. Reporting protects the next person too.
What to do if it happens to you in the UK
- Stop all contact and do not send any more money.
- Call your bank straight away. You can dial 159 to reach the fraud team of many UK banks.
- Report it to the police. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, use the national fraud reporting service; in Scotland, call Police Scotland on 101.
- Forward scam text messages to 7726, free on most UK mobile networks.
- Report the profile on the dating app and keep a record of the conversation.
There is no shame in being targeted. These scams are run by organised groups, and reporting helps protect others.
How DateSteady helps
A phone number is confirmed before anyone can send you a message, photos are screened when they are uploaded, and every profile shows which checks are complete in a public Trust Score. Photos cannot be sent inside private messages at all, messages are scanned for scam patterns, and reporting and blocking are free. DateSteady does not run criminal background checks, and no service can promise that everyone is honest, so the rules above still matter.
Read the full guide: romance scams: warning signs and how to avoid them.
Common questions
Who should I contact first if I have sent money?
Your bank. Call straight away; many UK banks can be reached on 159. Then report it to the police.
How can I tell if someone is a romance scammer?
Watch for love declared very quickly, excuses to avoid video calls, pressure to leave the app, and any request for money.
Can romance scams happen on paid dating sites?
Yes. Scammers use free and paid sites alike. What helps is checking what a site verifies, keeping conversations on the app and never sending money.