Can You Get Your Money Back From a Romance Scam?
In some cases, it may be possible to recover money after a scam, even if the payment was authorised.
This depends on how the payment was made, what happened at the time, and how your bank or provider responded. In some situations, reimbursement rules may apply.
How Do Reimbursement Rules Apply to Romance Scams?
Many romance scams involve authorised push payment (APP) fraud, where money is sent willingly based on false or misleading information.
In the UK, reimbursement rules introduced in October 2024 are designed to improve protection for customers affected by these types of scams.
These rules mean that, in certain situations, banks and payment providers may be required to reimburse customers, depending on the circumstances and how the payment was handled.
They build on an earlier voluntary code under which many banks had already reimbursed customers affected by APP fraud.
In some cases, complaints may also be reviewed by the Financial Ombudsman Service, which has recently reported a growing number of romance scam complaints.
Every case depends on the facts. How the scam developed, how payments were made, and how the bank responded can all affect the outcome. While recovery is not guaranteed, some people may still be able to question whether the situation was handled appropriately.
What Affects Whether You Can Make a Romance Scam Claim?
Several factors can influence whether a complaint may be possible:
- How payments were made (for example, bank transfer, card, or cryptocurrency)
- Whether warning signs were present or should have been identified
- The pattern, timing, and size of transactions
- How the bank or payment provider responded
- Whether any safeguards or fraud checks were applied
Understanding these factors can help clarify whether your situation may be worth reviewing.
How Compensation Adviser Helps
Compensation Adviser is here to help you understand your options after a romance scam. You can start with a free, no-obligation assessment to see whether you may be able to make a complaint.
If you decide to move forward, we can support you through the process. This may include reviewing your case, helping organise evidence, assisting with communication to the bank where needed, and explaining what happens next.
Our aim is to make the process clearer and less stressful, so you can make informed decisions about what to do next.
- Free, no-obligation assessment
- Guidance and support throughout the process
- Help identifying the evidence that may support your complaint
