Dating safely
Most people you meet are exactly who they say. These habits protect you from the few who aren’t.
Reporting a scam in the US
Never send money or gift cards to anyone you haven't met in person, however good the reason sounds. Report romance scams to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov and to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov. You can also block and report a profile here, and a person will review it.
Source: FTC: FTC announces new fraud reporting platform for consumers
Reporting a scam in the UK
Be wary of anyone who asks for money, and suspicious if they keep finding reasons not to meet. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, report fraud to Report Fraud at reportfraud.police.uk or 0300 123 2040. Report Fraud replaced Action Fraud in December 2025. In Scotland, call Police Scotland on 101.
Reporting racist abuse
If someone sends you racist messages, block and report them here, and a person will review it. In the UK, threats or harassment motivated by race or religion are treated as hate crimes and can be reported to the police through True Vision, the police hate crime site. For the US, see our guide on dealing with bias online.
Source: True Vision (National Police Chiefs' Council): Reporting internet hate crime