Relationships built online can feel completely real.
Service
Romance scam investigation
Discreet, non-judgemental investigation of relationship-based fraud, from identity checks to payment tracing.
Overview
How romance scam investigation works.
Romance scams are built on trust. They often last months, involve daily conversations and feel completely real — which is exactly why they work on intelligent, careful people.
GFIR investigates with discretion and without judgement. We examine the profiles, photos and accounts used, look for signs of a false identity, and trace the payments you made — whether by bank transfer, gift cards or cryptocurrency.
For many clients, the first step is simply understanding what really happened. For others, it's building evidence for the police or their bank. We support both.
Signs you may need this
- Someone you met online has never been able to video call or meet
- They asked for money for an emergency, travel, fees or an investment
- Their photos or story don't quite add up
- You've been asked to keep the relationship secret
- A family member is sending money to someone they've never met
We review conversations for patterns used by organised scams.
Every payment is traced, whatever the method.
How it works
Our approach, step by step.
- 01
Listen first
A confidential conversation to understand what happened, at your pace.
- 02
Check the identity
We analyse profiles, photos and accounts for signs of a false or stolen identity.
- 03
Trace the payments
Transfers, gift cards and crypto are followed to identify where the money went.
- 04
Plan next steps
We report findings and guide you on reporting, safety and protecting yourself from follow-up scams.
Who it's for
- People who sent money to someone met online
- Families concerned about a relative
What's included
- 01Profile and image analysis
- 02Identity indicators
- 03Payment and crypto trail
- 04Safety guidance
Realistic expectations
Scammers rarely use real identities. Our aim is evidence and clarity, not confrontation.Before you contact us
What to prepare.
Don't worry if you don't have everything — send what you can and we'll guide you through the rest.
- ✓Profile links, usernames and phone numbers
- ✓Photos they sent you
- ✓Chat history (screenshots or exports)
- ✓Records of every payment you made
- !Never share passwords, private keys or seed phrases — with anyone, including us.
Questions
About romance scam investigation
I feel embarrassed. Will you judge me?+
Never. These scams are run by professionals who manipulate people for a living. Our job is to help, not to judge.
Will the person find out I'm investigating?+
No. Our work is discreet and we never contact the scammer on your behalf without your agreement.
I'm worried about a family member. Can you help?+
Yes. We can review the situation with you and help you approach the conversation with evidence rather than suspicion.
Someone is now offering to recover my money. Is that real?+
Be very careful — victims are often targeted again by fake ‘recovery’ services. Speak to us or the police before paying anyone.
Guides
Read before you act.
Reverse image search: checking if a profile is real
Guide · Romance scam investigation
After a romance scam: protecting yourself from recovery fraud
Guide · Romance scam investigation
Related services
Cryptocurrency tracing
We follow stolen or misdirected digital assets across wallets, chains and bridges, and identify where funds reached exchanges or regulated services.
Online fraud investigation
Investment platforms, impersonation and payment fraud — we reconstruct what happened and who was behind each step.
Digital forensics
Forensically sound collection and analysis of phones, computers, email and cloud accounts, preserving evidence so it can be relied upon later.
Confidential case review
Confidential case review
Tell us what happened.
Your message is read by an investigator, not a sales team. We'll reply with an honest assessment of what can be done.
Have a question first? Read our FAQ →
Prefer email? info@gfirglobal.com