Recovering from romance fraud: what to do next

Finding out someone you trusted manipulated you for money or personal information is a lot to carry. You may feel angry, frightened, ashamed, numb, or unsure what was real. These are understandable responses to deception and loss. This isn't your fault. The person who deceived you is responsible, not you.

Do these things now:

• Contact every bank or payment provider: Use a trusted number from their official app or card, not one the person gave you. Ask them to stop or reverse payments, secure your accounts, and make note of your case number.
• Stop sending money or information: Don't confront the person as this could put your physical safety at risk. If you’re in immediate danger, call emergency services.
• Save evidence before you block them: Keep screenshots, usernames, receipts, dates, and amounts. Keep a copy somewhere they can’t access.

Recovering your money isn't guaranteed, and your rights depend on your country and payment method, but acting quickly helps. Keep a log of dates, who you spoke to, and what they told you. If a claim is turned down, ask for the reasons in writing and what your next step should be.

Secure your accounts:

• Change all of your passwords, starting with your email. Use a different one for each account or use a password manager.
• Turn on two-factor authentication, and check for devices or forwarding rules you don't recognise.
• Contact your mobile provider if they previously had access to your phone or could see your verification codes.
• If you shared identification (eg, ID cards, driver’s license, passports) or financial details, contact the issuing authority and your country's identity theft service.
• Make your social accounts private, remove contacts you don't know, contacts you gained through the fraudster, and consider changing your contact details if unwanted contact continues. Fraudsters will try to maintain contact in an attempt to win you back, or use coercion tactics to cause further harm if they can contact you.

Report the account to Badoo:

Reporting helps us look into what happened and protect other members. Reports are private and anonymous.

1. Open the person's profile
2. Scroll to the bottom
3. Select 'Report' or 'Block and report'

If you've already unmatched them or can't find their profile, contact our Support Team with their name, your reason for reporting, and any screenshots you have. You can make a report even if you’re no longer using our app. See our guide to reporting someone for more information. 

If the person has impersonated someone, made threats, or is threatening to share intimate images without your consent, report this to every platform involved. Save your evidence first, and don't pay any blackmail demand.

Report to the police:

This is your choice. It can create an official record, support a bank claim, or help protect others—though what happens next varies.

• Report to your local police and national fraud service
• Share a short timeline, your payment records, account details, messages, and any reference numbers. Keep a copy for yourself.
• Ask for a report number and any next steps
• If you're told it's a "civil matter," ask for it to go to a fraud unit, or contact your national reporting service directly

Tell someone:

It's your call who you tell and how much you share. Pick someone who'll listen without judgment and can help you get organised.

You could try: "Someone deliberately misused my trust. I don't need judgment. I need you to listen and help me with [specific task]."

If they blame you, you’re allowed to end it there: "I'm not willing to discuss this if I'm being blamed." Their reaction doesn't make this your fault. Chayn's guide, Telling someone what happened, can help you decide how and when to share with others.

Look after yourself:

Romance fraud can mean losing money, a relationship, and your sense of trust at the same time. Recovery is not a straight line, and you do not need to justify your feelings.

A trusted person, a therapist, a victim-survivor support service, or a specialist organisation like LoveSaid can help. So can Bloom, our free online trauma support and education programme, available in English, Spanish, French, Hindi, Portuguese, and German. Bloom's resources are built by survivors of abuse, and include:

• Messaging with the Bloom team about their courses
• Signing up for Notes from Bloom, short affirmations sent on WhatsApp
• Listening to Conversations, podcast-style stories of healing from survivors and allies – Understanding Romance Fraud has 3 episodes: 1) the experience and tactics used, 2) navigating reporting to banks, police, legal systems and supportive services, and 3) the healing journey to trust again. 
• Online peer support group for survivors of romance fraud, facilitated by a licensed therapist (contact our support team if interested) 

For free, confidential local support, Find a Helpline lists helplines by country, region, and state, along with how to reach them — by phone, chat, or text.

If you feel you might harm yourself, or you're in immediate danger, contact emergency services or a crisis line now.