You deserve support. Without judgment.
Someone can exploit trust without the person they targeted doing anything wrong. You can take the next step at your own pace.
How it can happen.
A few situations you might recognize. Open an example to see the pattern behind it.
An emergency after trust builds
The relationship may feel established before requests for travel, medical, or other urgent expenses begin. The emotional connection can make a financial request feel like an obligation.
Imagine this: A person you have only met online suddenly needs help paying for an emergency.
Repeated obstacles to meeting
Plans to meet keep changing, while new costs appear. Look at the pattern across the conversation, not only the latest explanation.
Imagine this: A promised visit is delayed again, followed by another request for travel money.
Romance that becomes an investment pitch
A personal relationship can be used to introduce a fake financial opportunity. Record the conversations and transactions together.
Imagine this: A new partner offers to help you invest, then directs you to a platform they control.
Blackmail and intimate-image threats
A person threatens to share intimate material to demand money or more content. Seek official reporting and specialist support; do not upload intimate images to a Shieldman case.
Imagine this: A contact threatens to send private material to your friends unless you pay.
Stop the requests for money
Do not send money or gifts to someone you have not met in person. Stop communicating if you suspect a scam.
Talk to someone you trust
A trusted friend or family member can help you assess what happened. Preserve the profile and conversations before reporting the account to the platform.
Contact the payment provider
If you paid, tell the bank or payment service promptly and ask what options remain. Keep reports and receipts. No advocate can promise that transferred money will be recovered.
Yes, this is a situation you can bring to us.
Your advocate helps you build a factual, private record without judgment and find appropriate reporting routes. We can help track provider and platform responses. Threats and intimate-image abuse may require police or specialist help beyond advocacy support.
Membership includes advocacy support for every scam category in this library. We assess the facts, explain the scope of help, and work through the available next steps with you. Recovery, refunds, and third-party decisions cannot be guaranteed; this is not insurance or formal legal representation.
See what membership includesYour checklist.
0 of 4 readyFor the official guidance, read FTC: romance scams · FTC: image-based abuse · FBI: relationship-led investment scams.
Processes and deadlines depend on your location and the organizations involved. These guides are general information; check the rules that apply to your situation. Shieldman membership provides consumer advocacy; it does not guarantee a refund.
You can bring us
the messy part.
Your advocate helps organize the facts and work through the next steps.
Meet your backup