Scammed on dating site

[Deleted User]

I know this is a long shot, but I have been targeted by an online dating scam, most likely a very professional Nigerian dating scam, totally plausible and believable, my friends and family were all as convinced as I was that this was a genuine person. I lost a sum of money (I realise this was my responsibility and that it was a very silly thing to do...) Reported to my bank who say they haven't been able to recover the funds, and also reported to Action Fraud. Any ideas about how I can recover any of my money?
Thanks in advance

pinkshoes

If you willingly sent money to someone then you cannot claw it back.

Accept your mistake and move on.

Grumpelstiltskin

What have Action Fraud said?
Surely you knew about Dating scams, it's been all over the media.

74jax

choccysue said:

I know this is a long shot, but I have been targeted by an online dating scam, most likely a very professional Nigerian dating scam, totally plausible and believable, my friends and family were all as convinced as I was that this was a genuine person. I lost a sum of money (I realise this was my responsibility and that it was a very silly thing to do...) Reported to my bank who say they haven't been able to recover the funds, and also reported to Action Fraud. Any ideas about how I can recover any of my money?
Thanks in advance

What makes you think it was a professional Nigerian scam? Its a rather specific thing to suggest?
You say you thought it was a person , how did you find out it was a company not a person (I'm just guessing company) ?
What was it you thought you were paying for, and what did you not recieve?  I only ask as my bank (Halifax) were amazing when I was scammed, but in my case I didn't do anything - if that makes sense - they got my card details and went on a shopping spree at my expense....
Have you heard back from action fraud yet? 
Did you give your card details for 1 thing but they used it on something else? 

MobileSaver

choccysue said:

I have been targeted by an online dating scam, ... totally plausible and believable, my friends and family were all as convinced as I was that this was a genuine person. ... how I can recover any of my money?

We've all made silly mistakes in the past and, as @pinkshoes said, you need to move on and accept that your money is gone.

While you will never recover a single penny of your own money you can help others from falling for the same scam and losing their money.

One thing you can do is provide some details of the "totally plausible and believable" things the scammer said that persuaded you to send them money; others reading this may then see the red flags before they get scammed. Do not include any personal details of the actual scammer as any photos or names used are almost certainly stolen and probably belong to another completely innocent victim.

sassyblue

It’s people like the rest of us on this forum who will effectively pay for your money to be repaid and why should everyone else suffer increased interest rates on credit cards or savings rates cut because you were daft?  There’s so much information everywhere about these scams there’s no excuse to send money to someone you’ve never met.

You say you accept responsibility so why don’t you accept your banks decision?

Going forward expect to receive texts or emails about people able to recover your money. That’s the same people who scammed you in the first place. The bank or the police are the only people who can recover your money so don’t be fooled a second time.

[Deleted User]

I see kindness is resident here in abundance!
Another stupid mistake of mine was to think that anyone on here might actually try and be helpful rather than critical. I am punishing myself enough, I don't need any help with that thank you.
I would also suggest that if you are not living and breathing the experience of a fellow human being don't try and assume you know why they think and act in a certain way, because you don't.
This forum is surely to offer help and encouragement to others, not pout them down when they are already at rock bottom.

43722

No helpful advice for you  I'm afraid, but I do agree that a few comments here are unnecessarily snippy, and that you can do without them. Good Luck

powerful_Rogue

choccysue said:

I see kindness is resident here in abundance!
Another stupid mistake of mine was to think that anyone on here might actually try and be helpful rather than critical. I am punishing myself enough, I don't need any help with that thank you.
I would also suggest that if you are not living and breathing the experience of a fellow human being don't try and assume you know why they think and act in a certain way, because you don't.
This forum is surely to offer help and encouragement to others, not pout them down when they are already at rock bottom.

You asked if there were any ways to recover your money, and the simple answer is none. The money has long gone and i'm afraid to say you will not get a penny of it back.

There have been some great replies to this thread, but i'm guessing as it's not the answer you wanted to hear, you've gone on the defensive.

[Deleted User]

I don't mind at all that I haven't received a reply that tells me how to get my money back, I did say it was a long shot. What I do mind is people's unhelpful manner. Why reply if you are not going to offer some helpful advice? 

lincroft1710

Your original post asked if there is any way you can recover any of your money. Sadly the answer is no as you sent it willingly. Sorry but I cannot offer you any words of comfort. Take heart that there are genuine people out there on dating sites and hopefully in time you will meet one