Lost my inheritance to a 'future partner' from a dating app, now my money is gone from a fake investment platform – can I recover from France?

Bonjour Emma, je suis tellement désolée que tu traverses ça. C'est une situation horrible, et tu n'es absolument pas stupide. These scammers are incredibly sophisticated and play on emotions, it could happen to anyone.

For reporting in France, your primary point of contact should be the police (Gendarmerie or Police Nationale). You need to file a formal complaint (une plainte) for fraud. Make sure to gather every single piece of evidence you have: screenshots of conversations, transaction records (even from your bank to the crypto exchange), the platform's URL, any contact info you have for him or the "professor" – literally everything.

You should also report it to the Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF France). They might not handle individual recovery directly, but they track these types of scams and can issue warnings, which helps prevent others from falling victim. They have a specific form for reporting suspected fraud. The ANSSI (Agence nationale de la sécurité des systèmes d'information) can also offer advice. The sooner you report, the better, for any chance, however small, of freezing funds, though crypto makes it very hard. Don't beat yourself up, just focus on taking action now.

Oh wow, Emma, my heart goes out to you. I really do understand how you're feeling. I went through somthing very, very similar last year, right here in Groningen. Lost about 40,000 euros that I'd saved up for ages, all to a guy from a dating app. The platforms they use, they look so real, don't they? And the 'financial experts'... ugh.

I reported it to the police here in the Netherlands and also to the AFM. Like the others said, gathering all the evidence is key. It was a long, slow process, and honestly, I didn't get my money back. But just reporting it, telling my story, knowing that maybe it helps someone else avoid the trap, that was something. And talking to friends and family, even though it was hard, helped immensely with the shame. You're not alone in this. Sending you strength.

Ngl, Emma, while it's awful what happened, the chances of getting that money back are pretty much zero once crypto is involved and it's sent to these fake 'investment' platforms. These operations are usually run by sophisticated organised crime groups far, far away, and they've already laundered the money multiple times over. Reporting it is still important for statistics and hopefully for law enforcement to build bigger cases, but realistically, preparing yourself for the fact that the money is gone is probably the kinder thing to do for your own mental health. It's a harsh truth, but it's often the case with these scams. I've seen it happen to so many people here in Limerick.

Emma, so sorry to hear about this. It's truly heartbreaking. From what I've seen over here in Singapore, where these kinds of scams are also rampant, the recovery rate for funds sent to fake crypto platforms is incredibly low. By the time you realise it's a scam, the money has usually been moved through multiple wallets and exchanges, sometimes even converted to other assets or physical goods. The 'professor' and the 'boyfriend' are likely part of the same crime syndicate, operating from different locations. Your best bet is to report everything, not just to the police but also to your bank, to see if any of the initial transfers can be traced or reversed, though for crypto this is very unlikely. The police will take your report, but don't hold out too much hope for seeing the cash again, sadly.

Mate, that's absolutely devastating. Don't be ashamed, these scammers are pure evil and they prey on good people who are vulnerable, looking for connection. It's not your fault, it's theirs. I've seen too many stories like yours here in Perth.

Focus on your well-being now. The financial hit is massive, I know, but your emotional recovery is even more important. Talk to friends, family, anyone you trust. Maybe a professional counsellor could help too. As for the reporting, definitely do everything Lea suggested with the French authorities. Even if the money's gone, closing that chapter and knowing you did all you could to report it can help. Take care of yourself, Emma.

Emma, please, hear this: under no circumstances should you trust ANYONE who contacts you now offering to "recover" your lost funds. You'll get bombarded with messages from 'recovery experts' or 'hackers' promising to get your crypto back for a fee. THESE ARE ALWAYS SCAMMERS TOO. They are preying on your desperation, it's called a 'recovery scam.' They'll take more of your money and deliver nothing. Never pay anyone upfront for recovery services. There are no legitimate services that can magically trace and recover crypto that's been moved off these fake platforms. Your money will just dwindle further. Stick to official channels only, like the police and financial regulators. Be really, really careful.

Emma, I'm so sorry you're going through this terrible ordeal. It takes such courage to share your story online. Please know that this particular type of scam, often called 'pig butchering,' is incredibly sophisticated and designed to emotionally manipulate victims. You absolutely are not stupid for falling for it; these criminals are experts at what they do.

Beyond what Lea mentioned, ensure you also reset all your passwords on any accounts you used for this (email, banking, dating app, social media). Block the scammer and the 'professor' everywhere. It sounds extreme, but they might try to re-engage or target you again. It's a brutal experience, but focusing on your safety and emotional healing is paramount. Don't hesitate to lean on your support network.

Emma, this happens constantly, and it's devastating. From a technical standpoint, once cryptocurrency leaves a legitimate exchange and is sent to a scam platform, tracing it becomes extremely difficult because the scammers immediately move it through multiple wallets, often using mixers or turning it into different tokens to obscure the trail. This is why a tool like ChainAbuse exists – and you should absolutely report the wallet addresses you sent money to there, if you have them. It helps to blacklist those addresses, meaning if any legitimate exchange recognizes them, they can freeze funds if they ever hit *their* platform. It's a long shot for recovery, but every bit of data helps the broader fight against these criminals.

For France, apart from the AMF, also look at the national cybersecurity agency (ANSSI) for guidance. And notify your bank that you were a victim of fraud. They might have a team dedicated to fraud investigations, and can advise on any potential chargebacks if it involves traditional bank transfers before crypto conversion, though direct crypto transfers are trickier.

Emma, please don't let this nightmare make you feel stupid or ashamed. These people literally build entire fake lives to draw you in. It's psychological warfare, not a test of intelligence. What happened to you is a crime. Take all the advice here, particularly about reporting to the police and the AMF. And give yourself time to process this. It's a huge emotional trauma, losing both the money and the trust you placed in someone. Be kind to yourself. We're all here to remind you that you're not alone and it's not your fault.

Ugh, Emma, I'm so sorry. I know *exactly* how you feel, because I went through this just last year, lost about $15k AUD to what felt like my soulmate from a dating app, also investing in some 'exclusive' crypto platform. The shame was suffocating, I actually hid it from my family for months. It feels so personal, doesn't it? Like they broke your heart and stole your future all at once.

I reported it to the police here in Perth, but nothing came back. Zero. The money just vanished. It still hurts so much when I think about it. But please, don't let the shame eat you up like it did me. Talk about it. Even if you can't get the money back, getting rid of that horrible secret feeling is a step towards healing. Really hoping things can be different for you.