Romance fraud, also known as dating or romance scams, involves a fraudster creating a fake online identity to establish a romantic relationship with someone in order to exploit them financially.
Global Impact:
Romance fraud is a significant issue worldwide. The United States reported losses of over $1.3 billion in 2022 from romance scams, with victims of romance fraud in the United Kingdom losing over £92 million, with an average loss per victim around £10,000.
Common Platforms:
Social media and dating Apps like Facebook, Instagram, Tinder, and others are common platforms where romance scammers operate.
Methods and Tactics:
Scammers often use emotional manipulation and create elaborate stories to gain trust, eventually requesting money under various pretexts such as medical emergencies or travel costs.
Reporting and Awareness:
Despite increased awareness, many cases remain underreported due to the stigma or embarrassment victims naturally feel.
We fully understand the devastating impact a deceptive relationship can cause, and the diverse effects it can have on finances, health, well-being, relationships, and work.
Rest assured that our investigation teams are highly experienced in client support, and in particular managing the effects of anxiety, stress and depression caused by this pervasive crime.
We know that reaching out for help is a crucial first step, and we’re here to support you in navigating through these challenging times with professional, compassionate, and effective advice and confidential solutions.
Thanks to IYE Global’s proprietary investigation resource, Cobra AI, we can expose the true identity of romance scammers, gather evidence to prove how a crime happened, and establish accurate processes to recover client funds.
Cobra AI enables us to identify scammers from a WhatsApp number, Skype or Telegram ID, cryptocurrency wallet address, IP Address, or fake online profile.
Bringing ID verification to an investigation is often the first step on an evidence trail leading to a successful outcome.
Using Cobra AI, we will expose the true identity and location of the scammer, known associates and source of funds.
Our investigation teams will identify all available options to recover your funds. Our lawyers will action the recovery process.
We will work with law enforcement agencies in the appropriate jurisdiction to bring those responsible to justice.
We will assign a dedicated member of our team to your case to ensure you maintain a consistent dialogue.
To give you both comfort and protection, our investigations include the provision of legal services of a senior solicitor who has the standing of a barrister in Europe, with International Accreditation, and in the UK by the Solicitors Regulatory Authority (SRA).
We’ll assess your case to establish a precise investigation strategy to recover your funds, and/or to apprehend the scammer.
To assist our investigation we’ll need to collate evidence, such as social media profiles, WhatsApp numbers and financial transactions.
Our investigation will establish ‘proof of crime’, and will identify all entities we can pursue to resolve your situation.
Our lawyers will leave no stone unturned to secure the return of your funds, or to bring those responsible to justice.
Our lawyers are regulated internationally.
We work with law enforcement agencies internationally.
We work with financial regulators internationally.
Cobra AI enables us to track and trace financial transactions to identity criminal accounts and the location of your stolen funds, whether in banks or cryptocurrency exchanges.
We can often hold banks accountable for your financial loss if your money passed through several banks, payment providers or cryptocurrency exchanges before reaching the scam – even if you authorised the initial transactions from your bank and your bank has already declined your claim for a refund.
In 95% of romance scams we investigate, we recover funds directly from financial entities, such as banks, without having to trace the money or locate the scammer.
Our Fees
For transparency, IYE charge an initial commissioning fee, which is calculated by completing a thorough assessment of your case, plus a success fee.
We fully understand that fraud often places people in an unfavourable financial position. As such, we keep our commissioning fees at a nominal and affordable level.
Our fixed fee includes the provision of legal services of a senior solicitor who has the standing of a barrister in Europe, with International Accreditation, and in the UK by the Solicitors Regulatory Authority (SRA).
Can I remain anonymous?
Maintaining your privacy, confidentiality and security throughout the investigation is of paramount importance to us.
Should you ask us to locate the scammer, we ensure that your identity will remain anonymous at all times.
Will I have to confront the scammer in court or any other time?
No. Because we pursue criminal, not civil law, your case will not go to court. You will not have to confront the scammer at any point.
Do I have to attend court?
No. Our lawyers handle the entire process on your behalf.
Because a crime has happened, we pursue criminal, not civil law, so your case will not go to court.
Is IYE Global regulated?
It is a legal requirement that the recovery of client funds is undertaken by a regulated entity.
To provide clients both comfort and protection, the recovery of all client funds is handled by a senior solicitor who has the standing of a barrister in Europe, with International Accreditation, and in the UK by the Solicitors Regulatory Authority (SRA).
Can I discuss my case over the telephone?
Yes. Please call +44 (0)207 112 8807.
You can also request a Zoom or Teams call, using the form below.
Office hours
Monday – Friday, 9am to 5pm.
London time.
Do you report my case to the police?
Although it’s not absolutely necessary to report a crime to the police, we highly recommended doing so. Having an official police crime reference number can strengthen your claim.
We can register your case with the police via Action Fraud on your behalf.
Reporting the crime may also assist the police with any ongoing investigations to bringing those responsible to justice.
Obtaining your permission
Due to the sensitive nature of romance fraud, we will not report your case to the police without your permission.
What if my bank has already said "No"
Your bank may have rejected your romance scam recovery claim due to a lack of evidence, or because you were unable to legally demonstrate how your bank is potentially negligent in their legal duty of care to you as a customer. Our investigators prove criminality to a police prosecution standard. We will represent your case on your behalf with new evidence and by applying our exceptional understanding of criminal and financial law.
What if my money past through multiple payment systems
If your money originated in a bank account, it is irrelevant how many intermediary payment providers or digital currency exchanges your money passed through before reaching the perpetrator(s). Any legitimate financial entity that your money passed through is potentially culpable by aiding the transfer of money to a crime.
What if I didn’t transfer money from my bank?
Our legal team can pursue the recovery of funds from any legitimate and culpable entity who aided the transfer of money to a crime. This may include people, companies, intermediary payment providers, financial institutions, or cryptocurrency exchanges.
How long does it take?
Once we receive your enquiry we’ll assess all available options to recover your money. The chosen strategy will determine how long the process is likely to take. We’ll talk you through all available options.
Upon receipt of your enquiry we’ll contact you to discuss your options.
By submitting a claim, you are under no obligation to use our services. Sometimes, having a conversation can provide clarity and peace of mind about your next steps.
The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (FSMA).
Claims Management Activities in Great Britain.
IYE Global is fully compliant with the FSMA 2000, and the provisions of Section 89 of the Act which specifies who may engage in claims management activity. IYE Global Ltd, is a firm, organisation or body corporate, that carries on a claims management activity through a legal practitioner, and as such is exempt from the provisions of the Act under section 89N.
If you have already transferred funds and it is clear it is a scam, we can investigate, propose a strategy for recovery and work with you to pursue recovery options. IYE Global conduct investigations to understand the crime committed and to gather supportive evidence. Although IYE Global is not a claims management company and is not authorised by the FCA to engage in regulated activities in the UK, to protect clients the recovery of all clients funds is conducted by our lawyers who are regulated by the Solicitors Regulatory Authority (SRA) and operates under the (UK) FCA (Financial Conduct Authority) regulations.
