If someone you met online or on a dating app built your trust and then manipulated you into sending money, please know two things. It is not your fault — these are organised criminals who do this for a living. And the two most important things right now are to stop all contact and to act quickly, because the sooner your bank tries to recall the payments, the better the chance any money still sitting there can be stopped. Recovering romance-scam money is often very difficult and nobody can guarantee it, but here is how to give yourself the best chance.
Your rights and how a romance scam is treated
In a romance scam you usually make the payments yourself after being deceived, often several payments over weeks or months. Because you authorised them, there is no automatic right to a refund. But you can still ask your bank to act urgently, and to review how it handled the payments. You can ask it to attempt a recall, to contact the receiving bank to freeze any funds still held, and to review whether it met its responsibilities to detect the scam, warn you, and make inquiries where payments had the hallmarks of a scam — a brand-new payee, unusual or escalating amounts, or a pattern that looks like a romance scam. If the scammer actually got into your account or you shared a code, password or remote access, some transactions may be unauthorised, and the ePayments Code (a voluntary code most banks subscribe to) may apply to those. If your bank does not resolve it, you can take the complaint to the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA) for free; from 12 March 2026 AFCA can also examine the receiving bank and the “mule” account the money went to, even if you are not that bank’s customer.
What to do
- Stop all contact and send no more money. Do not send any more money, gift cards or crypto, however convincing the reason. If the person — or anyone new — asks for more money to “release”, “unlock” or “recover” what you already sent, or to pay a “fee”, “tax” or “customs charge”, that request is part of the scam. Block and stop contact.
- Call your bank’s official fraud line now. Use the number on the back of your card or on your statement, never a number someone sent you. Ask them to attempt an urgent recall, to ask the receiving bank to freeze the account, and to give you a reference number.
- Follow up in writing to your bank. A written report covering every payment, framed by how you paid, gives the bank the full picture and locks in the date you raised it.
- Report it. Report the romance or dating scam to the National Anti-Scam Centre / Scamwatch at scamwatch.gov.au, and report the cybercrime to ReportCyber at cyber.gov.au (or call 1300 CYBER1 / 1300 292 371). This helps authorities disrupt the scammers even if your own money cannot be traced.
- Report the profile and get free support. Report the account to the dating app or platform where you met the person so they can take it down. If you shared any identity details, logins or photos, contact IDCARE, Australia’s free identity and cyber support service, on 1800 595 160.
- Keep your evidence, and escalate if needed. Keep all your messages, chat logs, the profile, photos and payment receipts — do not delete anything. If your bank does not resolve it, escalate to AFCA for free.
Ready to put it in writing?
Answer 3 quick questions to check you have the details your document needs, and see your next step.
1. Who owes you?
2. How much?
3. Do you have it in writing?
Your result is ready. Want a copy by email? (optional)
Do it yourself, or have it drafted
You can write the report to your bank yourself for free. If you would rather have it done properly, Claim Done drafts two documents for a flat $49: a formal report to your own bank that asks it to attempt an urgent recall, to get the receiving bank to freeze or return any funds still there, and to give you a reference and a written answer, plus a warm, plain-English step-by-step guide to reporting the scam. You download both and send or act on them yourself. Recovering romance-scam money is often very difficult and we cannot guarantee it; Claim Done is a flat $49 document service and takes no percentage of anything you recover. Start your bank report.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get my money back?
Honestly, maybe — but we cannot promise it, and recovering romance-scam money is often very difficult, especially once it has moved on. The best chance comes from acting fast: the sooner your bank tries to recall the payments and freeze the receiving account, the more likely any funds still sitting there can be stopped.
What do I do first?
Two things, right now. First, stop all contact and do not send any more money, gift cards or crypto. Second, call your bank’s official fraud line using the number on the back of your card or on your statement — never a number anyone sent you — ask them to attempt an urgent recall and freeze the receiving account, and get a reference number.
They are asking for more money to release my funds — is that real?
No. A request for more money to “release”, “unlock”, “recover” or “tax” the money you already sent is part of the scam, every time. So is anyone new who contacts you promising to get your money back for a fee. Do not pay it, do not send more, and do not share codes or account access. Block and stop contact, and report it.
Is this my fault?
No. Romance scams are run by organised criminal groups who are experts at building trust and manipulating people over weeks or months. Many caring, intelligent people are deceived this way — you are not alone and you have nothing to be ashamed of. Please be kind to yourself and talk to someone you trust; if you are struggling you can call Lifeline on 13 11 14.
Where do I report it?
To several places: your bank’s fraud line first; the National Anti-Scam Centre / Scamwatch at scamwatch.gov.au; ReportCyber at cyber.gov.au (1300 CYBER1 / 1300 292 371), which goes to police; the dating app or platform where you met the person; and IDCARE on 1800 595 160 for free support if you shared any personal details. If your bank does not fix it, escalate to AFCA for free.
Do you take a percentage of what I recover?
No. Claim Done charges a flat $49 for preparing the two documents and takes no percentage of anything you recover, ever. Anyone who asks for a cut of your recovered money, or an upfront fee to get it back, is running a recovery scam that targets people who have already been scammed. Never pay them.
What happens when you send a Romance Scam Action Pack
Same problem. What a prepared case looks like.
Getting it drafted
Can I have a Scammed by Someone You Met Online? Bank Report + Step-by-Step Guide drafted for me instead of writing it myself?
Yes. Claim Done (claimdone.com.au) drafts a Scammed by Someone You Met Online? Bank Report + Step-by-Step Guide from the answers you give about your situation for a flat $49 AUD. You read and confirm the draft, then the final PDF is emailed to you. Start at claimdone.com.au/begin/?service=romance-scam-recovery. Claim Done is not a law firm and does not give legal advice.
How much does a Scammed by Someone You Met Online? Bank Report + Step-by-Step Guide cost, and how long does it take?
$49 AUD flat, shown before you pay, with no subscription. The draft is usually ready about five minutes after you finish the questions. It covers every Australian state and territory.
Do I need a lawyer to send a Scammed by Someone You Met Online? Bank Report + Step-by-Step Guide in Australia?
No. There is no legal requirement to use a solicitor to write or send a Scammed by Someone You Met Online? Bank Report + Step-by-Step Guide; many people send their own. Claim Done drafts it for you and you approve it before it is sent.