Do not feel embarrassed or ashamed if you think you’ve been a romance scam victim. This can happen to anyone, and you’re not alone. However, we encourage you to report the crime.
Here are our resources to report romance scams depending on your location:
Where to Report in Australia
To report a romance scam in Australia, you should contact the ScamWatch service operated by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) through their website; you can also report scams by calling 1300 795 995.
Additional Info
- IDCARE: If you are concerned about identity theft, contact IDCARE for assistance.
- Police reporting: For serious cases, consider contacting the police through ReportCyber.
- If you or someone else is in immediate danger or at risk of harm, dial 000.
Where to Report in New Zealand
In New Zealand, report romance scams to Netsafe (the nation’s non-profit online safety organisation) and potentially to New Zealand Police.
Here’s a breakdown of where and how to report:
Netsafe
Website
Helpline: 0508 638 723 (8am-8pm weekdays, 9am-5pm weekends)
Email: [email protected]
Text: Text “Netsafe” to 4282
Live Chat: Available on the Netsafe website
- Report Online: Use the 105 website to report online.
- Call: 105 for non-emergencies.
Additional Info
- IDCARE: If you are concerned about identity theft, contact IDCARE for assistance.
- Victim Support: If you need emotional support, contact Victim Support NZ.
- If you or someone else is in immediate danger or at risk of harm, dial 111.
Where to Report in the UK
To report romance scams in the UK, you should contact Action Fraud either through their website or on 0300 123 2040.
Additionally:
- If your scam experience was an ‘in-person’ fraud, please also report to your local police.
- If you or someone else is in immediate danger or at risk of harm, dial 999.
Where to Report in the US
Please report romance scams to IC3 (Internet Crime Complaint Centre). IC3 is the central hub for reporting cyber-enabled crime and is run by the FBI, the lead federal agency for investigating crime.
Additional Info
- If you need to freeze your credit to stop fraudsters from opening new accounts or taking out credit in your name, contact the three major credit bureaus to freeze your credit: Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion.
- If you or someone else is in immediate danger or at risk of harm, dial 911.
Where to Report in Canada
In Canada, romance scams are reported to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre. You can report online or by phone. For more information, please visit their website.
Where to Report in Europe
In European countries such as Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Slovakia, Slovenia and Sweden, report romance scams to Europol. On Europol’s ‘report cybercrime online’ page, click on your country’s link and you will be directed to the reporting site.
Additional Info
- In Member States which do not have a dedicated online option in place, you are advised to go to your local police station to lodge a complaint.
Where to Report in South Africa
In South Africa, if you suspect you’ve been a victim of a romance scam, you should report it to the South African Police Service (SAPS) at your local police station. This is the primary avenue to report any crime, including online scams, so report your romance scam to your nearest police station. SAPS Crime Stop (Tip-off Line): 0860 010 111
You can also report it to the South African Banking Risk Information Centre (SABRIC) for further assistance and to raise awareness about online scams. This organisation works to combat banking-related crime and can be a valuable resource for reporting romance scams and learning about online fraud prevention.
Where to Report in Singapore
In Singapore, you can report romance scams to ScamShield.
Where to Report in India
In India, romance scams can be reported to the National Government Services Portal. This portal is entirely online and designed to facilitate victims reporting cybercrime.