Romance Scams in Australia
How romance fraud targets Australians across dating apps and social media — with Australian-specific reporting routes through Scamwatch, IDCARE, and the Australian Cyber Security Centre.
Part of: Fake Online Partners
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Romance scams are consistently recorded as one of the highest-loss fraud categories in Australia, with the ACCC's Scamwatch publishing data showing losses in the tens of millions of dollars annually. Australians are targeted through the same platforms as people in other English-speaking countries — dating apps, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn — but the reporting infrastructure and consumer support available in Australia is distinct and worth knowing.
This guide covers how romance fraud is experienced specifically by Australians — the contact channels, payment methods most commonly demanded, and the Australian-specific resources including Scamwatch, IDCARE (identity recovery support), and the option to report investment-linked romance fraud to ASIC.
How this scam works on Australia
In Australia, romance scam contact most commonly begins on dating apps (Tinder, Bumble, Hinge, RSVP) or through Facebook and Instagram. The scammer's presented profile typically claims an Australian or international professional background — mining engineer, offshore oil worker, military officer, or doctor working with an international organisation — that explains why in-person meetings are impossible.
Conversations move quickly to WhatsApp or Telegram to establish a private channel outside platform moderation. Over weeks of daily messaging, trust is built before a financial request emerges — framed as a medical emergency, legal trouble, or a time-limited investment opportunity.
A specifically Australian variant involves scammers impersonating FIFO (fly-in fly-out) workers — a familiar concept in Australia given the mining sector. The cover story of being at a remote mine site explains the inability to meet and normalises long communication gaps. Investment-linked romance fraud that targets Australians sometimes references ASIC-registered platforms to appear legitimate, when in fact the platform is fraudulent.
Common red flags
- Dating profile that claims to be an Australian FIFO worker, defence contractor, or offshore professional who cannot meet in person
- Relationship that develops very quickly through WhatsApp or Telegram with daily affectionate messaging
- A financial request — emergency or investment — after weeks of close online contact
- Investment opportunity introduced through a romantic contact that claims ASIC registration but cannot provide a verifiable licence number
- Profile photos that reverse-image-search to a different name or appear on stock photo sites
- Refusal to do a spontaneous live video call at a reasonable time for Australian time zones
How to protect yourself
- Reverse-image-search profile photos before developing any emotional investment
- Insist on a live, spontaneous video call — not a pre-scheduled one — before trusting a new online contact
- Verify any investment platform on ASIC's register at search.asic.gov.au before sending money
- Report a suspected romance scammer to Scamwatch at scamwatch.gov.au before any financial engagement
- If personal identity documents were shared, contact IDCARE at idcare.org or call 1800 595 160
How to report it
- Report to Scamwatch at scamwatch.gov.au — the ACCC's national scam reporting service for consumer fraud
- Report cybercrime elements to ReportCyber at cyber.gov.au/report-a-cybercrime
- If money was sent, contact your bank's fraud line immediately
- Contact IDCARE at idcare.org (1800 595 160) if personal documents or identity information was shared with the scammer
- Report the profile on the dating app or social platform where contact was made
Frequently asked questions
What is IDCARE and when should I contact them?
IDCARE is Australia and New Zealand's national identity and cyber support service. Contact them if you shared personal identity documents — passport, driver's licence, Medicare card — with someone you now believe was a scammer. They provide tailored case management to help limit the impact of identity compromise and can advise on whether to apply for a credit ban or replace documents.
Is it possible to recover money sent in a romance scam in Australia?
Recovery depends on the payment method. Bank transfer reported immediately has a narrow recall window — contact your bank's fraud line the same day. Cryptocurrency is generally irreversible. Gift cards, once redeemed, are very unlikely to be recovered. File reports with Scamwatch and your bank regardless of payment method — this contributes to national enforcement action.