Relationship scam guide
Romance scam
Romance scams rely on emotional grooming, fake affection, fake foreign jobs, travel excuses, medical emergencies, customs fees, or investment opportunities. The scammer may avoid video calls, use stolen photos, and escalate requests after trust is established.
Risk signal
Emotional grooming
Severity
high
Group
Relationship
Common identifiers
Add identifiers that can be matched safely across reports, profiles, payments, and evidence without exposing unnecessary private data.
Phone number
Use the exact phone number shown by the scammer so CheckKaroo can link repeat signals and avoid weak matches.
Social profile
Use the exact social profile shown by the scammer so CheckKaroo can link repeat signals and avoid weak matches.
Use the exact email shown by the scammer so CheckKaroo can link repeat signals and avoid weak matches.
Payment handle
Use the exact payment handle shown by the scammer so CheckKaroo can link repeat signals and avoid weak matches.
Evidence to preserve
Keep proof in original form where possible. Screenshots help, but transaction IDs, URLs, timestamps, and chat context make moderation stronger.
Relationship timeline
Capture relationship timeline with date, time, sender, URL, or transaction context visible where possible.
Photos used
Capture photos used with date, time, sender, URL, or transaction context visible where possible.
Emergency claims
Capture emergency claims with date, time, sender, URL, or transaction context visible where possible.
Transfers
Capture transfers with date, time, sender, URL, or transaction context visible where possible.
First response
These steps reduce further loss and keep your report useful for review, banking escalation, platform reporting, and official complaints.
Stop private sharing
Do this early: stop private sharing helps reduce repeat contact, preserve proof, and keep escalation options open.
Reverse image search photos
Do this early: reverse image search photos helps reduce repeat contact, preserve proof, and keep escalation options open.
Report financial loss immediately
Do this early: report financial loss immediately helps reduce repeat contact, preserve proof, and keep escalation options open.
Urgent money loss
If money was recently transferred, call 1930 first and raise a bank or payment-app dispute. Speed matters for fund-freeze attempts.
Privacy boundary
Do not upload OTPs, passwords, full card numbers, full Aadhaar, private documents, or unrelated intimate media. Use masked, relevant evidence whenever possible.