Can I get my money back from a romance scam?

If you transferred money by bank transfer (Faster Payments), the PSR mandatory reimbursement scheme (from October 2024) may require your bank to refund up to £85,000. The FOS has also been sympathetic to romance scam victims in cases where banks failed to apply adequate fraud warnings. Romance scams are specifically recognised as a high-risk APP fraud category by the PSR. If you paid by credit card, Section 75 may also apply.

Will my bank think I am stupid for falling for a romance scam?

No. Romance scams are highly sophisticated — conducted by organised criminal gangs who invest weeks or months building emotional relationships. The FOS, PSR, and the courts recognise that romance scams are designed specifically to overcome reasonable safeguards. Falling victim does not constitute gross negligence. Never feel embarrassed to report a romance scam — your bank has a legal obligation to help you.

What is pig butchering and is it the same as a romance scam?

Pig butchering is a long-term romance or relationship scam that builds trust over months before introducing an investment opportunity — usually cryptocurrency. The scammer 'fattens up' the victim emotionally and financially before 'slaughtering' them with a large final loss. Recovery options are the same as other romance scams: PSR scheme for bank transfers, Section 75 for credit cards.

Romance Scam Recovery UK 2025 — Can I Get My Money Back?

First — this is not your fault

Romance scams are sophisticated criminal operations

Romance scams are run by organised criminal gangs. They invest weeks or months building genuine-feeling emotional relationships, using professional scripts, stolen photos, and sometimes AI-generated video. Victims across all age groups, education levels, and backgrounds are targeted. Being deceived by a romance scam does not mean you were stupid or naïve — it means a professional criminal successfully targeted you. Your first step is to stop any further transfers. Then: your bank may be legally required to refund you.

💔 You are not to blame✓ Legal refund route exists⏱ Report to bank now

Recovery options

Your recovery options — in priority order

Stop all transfers immediately and block contact

Block the scammer on all platforms — dating apps, WhatsApp, email, social media. Do not respond to any further messages, including requests for "one last payment" or threats. Any further contact is part of the scam. You have done the hardest thing — recognised it.

Call your bank's fraud line now

Call immediately — the number is on the back of your card. Report it as an APP fraud / romance scam. Your bank may be able to recall some payments. Tell them you are making a formal PSR reimbursement claim for all transfers. Keep a note of who you spoke to and when.

Report to Action Fraud

Report at actionfraud.police.uk or call 0300 123 2040. Get a crime reference number. This is essential for your bank claim and any FOS complaint. Action Fraud passes intelligence to specialist police units targeting romance fraud networks.

Submit a formal PSR reimbursement claim

Your bank must refund you up to £85,000 for bank transfers made from 7 October 2024 under the PSR mandatory scheme. Submit a written claim to your bank's fraud department — email or letter — headed "PSR Mandatory Reimbursement Claim — APP Fraud". The bank has 5 business days to pay.

Escalate to the FOS if your bank refuses

The Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) has been specifically sympathetic to romance scam victims and has overturned many bank rejections. You can escalate for free within 6 months of the bank's final decision. The FOS can award up to £430,000 for APP fraud cases.

Why banks must pay

Why a romance scam should result in a bank refund

PSR scheme — mandatory from Oct 2024

For bank transfers from 7 October 2024, your bank must refund you up to £85,000 for APP fraud including romance scams. This is a legal obligation — your bank cannot make it discretionary.

FOS — strong track record

The FOS has consistently found that banks should have applied stronger fraud warnings before allowing large romance fraud transfers to proceed. Victims who were not warned have succeeded in FOS complaints going back several years.

Being deceived ≠ gross negligence

Banks can only refuse PSR refunds if you were "grossly negligent". Romance scam victims — deceived by sophisticated, sustained criminal manipulation — do not meet this standard. The FOS has confirmed this repeatedly.

Banks should have had systems

UK banks are required to have fraud detection systems that identify unusual payments. Sending multiple large transfers to a new payee — typical in romance scams — should trigger warnings. Failure to warn is itself a basis for FOS criticism.

Emotional support

You are not alone — support resources

Romance scams cause significant emotional harm beyond the financial loss. Many victims experience shame, grief, and confusion — having lost not just money but what felt like a real relationship. This is a normal and expected response to a sophisticated manipulation.

Action Fraud

actionfraud.police.uk — Report your case and access victim support guidance. 0300 123 2040.

Victim Support

victimsupport.org.uk — Free, confidential support for fraud victims. Emotional support as well as practical advice.

Revenge Scam Support

Several specialist organisations support romance fraud victims. Ask your GP for a referral if the emotional impact is significant.

Citizens Advice

citizensadvice.org.uk — Free legal and financial guidance if you need help navigating the bank complaint process.

💬

Talk to someone you trustMany romance scam victims keep the experience secret because of shame. Sharing with a trusted person — a friend, family member, or support organisation — significantly helps with recovery. This happened to you. It is not a reflection of your intelligence or worth.

FAQs

Romance scam recovery — questions answered

My bank says I authorised the payments — can they still refuse?+

Under the PSR mandatory scheme, the fact that you "authorised" the payments is not a defence for the bank — APP fraud specifically covers situations where the victim was tricked into authorising payments. The bank can only refuse if you were grossly negligent. Being deceived by a sophisticated romantic manipulation is not gross negligence. If your bank uses "you authorised the payment" as its only reason for rejection, escalate to the FOS immediately.

The scammer asked for gift cards, not a bank transfer — am I covered?+

Gift card purchases are harder to recover than bank transfers. The PSR mandatory scheme covers Faster Payments bank transfers only — not gift cards. However, if you bought gift cards with a credit card, Section 75 may apply. Gift cards themselves cannot be recalled once redeemed, but the purchase may be challenged with the retailer or card issuer. Report the gift card codes to the issuer (Amazon, Apple, Google) — in some cases, unredeemed balances can be frozen.

I'm embarrassed to tell my bank it was a romance scam — do I have to say that?+

You can describe it as "authorised push payment fraud" without going into personal details about the nature of the relationship. However, being open with your bank about the circumstances actually strengthens your case — banks are trained to handle romance fraud claims sensitively, and the PSR rules specifically recognise romance scams as a protected category. There is nothing to be embarrassed about: this is a crime committed against you.

Related guides

Disclaimer: PSR scheme covers Faster Payments from 7 October 2024. FOS claims are subject to 6-month time limits from bank's final decision. Not legal advice. If you are in financial crisis, contact Citizens Advice (0800 144 8848) for free guidance.