Reporting feeds intelligence and gets you on warning lists for the inevitable 'recovery agent' approach.
What to do
- UK: Action Fraud + FCA ScamSmart; AU: Scamwatch + ReportCyber; US: IC3.gov + FTC + SEC tips
- Report the scammer's profile to the platform you met them on (Tinder, Instagram, WhatsApp, LinkedIn)
- Block the scammer everywhere and expect a 'recovery agent' to appear within days — don't engage
- Freeze your credit report; rotate banking and email passwords with 2FA
- Speak to a regulated financial counsellor about insolvency / hardship options if the loss is large
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JD
Written by
Jordan DicksonFounder, CyberSecurityGuides
Founder of CyberSecurityGuides, writing practical, jargon-free guides that help everyday people recover from and protect against online attacks.
Reviewed by CSG Security Engineers