I was scammed by someone I met on a dating app — should I tell my family?

Yes — not because of what they can do to help recover money, but because isolation is one of the biggest factors in long-term harm after a romance scam. Victims who keep it secret are far more likely to fall into a second scam (often a 'recovery' scam) and far less likely to recover emotionally.

Pick one person you trust. Tell them only what you're comfortable with. You don't owe anyone the full story. What you do owe yourself is the relief of not carrying this alone. There are also moderated, anonymous support communities — GASO and the AARP fraud peer-support line are professional and judgment-free.