Australian men lost substantial amounts to online relationship scams in 2025. Combined reports received by Scamwatch, ReportCyber, IDCARE, the Australian Financial Crimes Exchange and ASIC recorded A$139.9 million in romance-scam losses.
These losses were not limited to one country, nationality or dating platform. However, scammers regularly use Ukrainian identities, attractive photographs, war stories, fake passports and promises of international travel to build trust with men in Australia.
This does not mean that Ukrainian women are scammers. Most Ukrainian women using dating sites and social media are ordinary people. The real question is whether the specific woman, photographs, identity, documents and financial story presented to you are genuine.
Last updated: July 23, 2026.
All Ukrainian Passport service prices shown on this page are in US dollars. Australian scam-loss statistics are shown in Australian dollars.
Quick verdict for Australian men: do not send money, gift cards, cryptocurrency, banking information or identity documents to a woman you have never met and independently verified. A video call, passport photograph or emotional war story is not a complete identity check.
Ukrainian Dating Scam Risk in Australia
The National Anti-Scam Centre’s 2025 Targeting Scams report recorded A$139.9 million in combined romance-scam losses reported across major Australian organisations.
This figure covers all types of romance scams. It does not mean that Ukrainian women were responsible for those losses. It does show that online relationships are being used to cause serious financial harm to Australians.
Relationship scammers may spend weeks, months or even years building trust. They may contact victims through:
- international dating sites;
- Tinder, Bumble or Badoo;
- Facebook and Instagram;
- TikTok;
- Telegram and WhatsApp;
- webcam and adult-content platforms;
- email or private messaging;
- fake investment groups.
The person operating the account may be:
- the woman shown in the photographs;
- a man using stolen photographs;
- an agency employee or translator;
- a studio operator controlling several profiles;
- a real woman using a false biography;
- a criminal group operating from another country;
- a person using AI-generated or edited media.
How Ukrainian Dating Scams Reach Australian Men
A common approach begins with an attractive profile claiming to represent a Ukrainian woman looking for a mature, reliable foreign partner.
The woman may say that:
- she is tired of Ukrainian men;
- she wants a serious relationship or marriage;
- she admires Australian values and lifestyle;
- she wants to leave Ukraine because of the war;
- she has a child and wants a safer future;
- she has family or friends in Australia;
- she is prepared to relocate;
- she has never felt this close to anyone before.
The relationship then moves from the original platform to Telegram, WhatsApp or another private messenger.
Moving to a private messenger is not proof of fraud. However, it removes some of the reporting, moderation and safety tools offered by the original dating platform. It may also expose your phone number, profile photograph, contacts and other personal information.
The Most Common Ukrainian Dating Scam Patterns
1. Stolen Photographs and False Identities
The woman in the photographs may be a real Ukrainian, Russian or European woman who has no connection to the conversation.
Photographs are frequently copied from:
- Instagram;
- Facebook;
- TikTok;
- modeling portfolios;
- webcam platforms;
- OnlyFans;
- dating sites;
- private social-media accounts.
The photographs may then be connected to a new name, age, city and personal story.
Warning signs include:
- professional photographs but almost no normal social history;
- the same face appearing under different names;
- different ages or cities on separate dating sites;
- a newly created account with hundreds of polished photographs;
- few genuine comments from friends or family;
- no evidence connecting the photographs to the claimed identity.
Australia’s eSafety Commissioner recommends using image search tools to see whether the same photographs appear online under another name.
If you only have photographs, use our Identify a Person by Picture service.
2. Fake Ukrainian Passport or ID Card
A scammer may send a Ukrainian passport or plastic ID card and say:
“Now you know that I am real.”
A passport image may be:
- completely fabricated;
- edited using graphic software;
- created or modified using AI;
- stolen from another person;
- genuine but unrelated to the profile;
- genuine while the travel or money story remains false;
- expired or invalid.
A correct Ukrainian flag, coat of arms, passport number, photograph or machine-readable zone does not make the document genuine.
A selfie in which the woman holds a passport is also not conclusive. The passport may belong to another person, contain an edited photograph or have no connection to the person writing the messages.
If she sends a Ukrainian passport or ID, use our Ukrainian Passport Verification service before relying on it.
3. War, Evacuation and Relocation Stories
The war in Ukraine has created real hardship, displacement and danger. Scammers exploit this reality because an Australian man may have difficulty checking conditions in a distant Ukrainian city.
A woman may request money for:
- evacuation from a dangerous area;
- a driver to reach Poland or another European country;
- temporary accommodation;
- food and clothing;
- support for a child or parent;
- a new passport;
- border permits;
- legal or military documents;
- a deposit for housing abroad;
- travel to Australia.
A war-related story is not proof of fraud. The warning sign is a connected pattern involving an unverified identity, changing explanations, urgent payments and no independent evidence.
4. Travel, Visa and Ticket Scams
The woman may say she wants to visit Australia but needs financial help before she can travel.
Common requests include:
- passport fees;
- visa application costs;
- medical examinations;
- travel insurance;
- airline tickets;
- hotel bookings;
- proof of funds;
- migration-agent fees;
- airport or customs payments;
- fees for traveling through Poland or another country.
She may send a ticket, reservation, visa image, invoice or letter from an alleged travel company.
Do not send money based on a PDF, screenshot, booking number, barcode or official-looking logo. Verify the person, document, company, travel requirement and payment recipient separately.
5. Medical and Family Emergencies
Medical stories create fear and urgency. The woman may claim that she, her child or a close relative needs immediate treatment.
The request may involve:
- surgery;
- hospital treatment;
- cancer care;
- dental treatment;
- medication;
- pregnancy care;
- treatment following a military attack;
- a private clinic invoice.
A medical certificate or hospital invoice may be fabricated, edited or unrelated to the woman.
If she sends a Ukrainian medical document, use our Ukrainian Medical Document Verification service.
6. Debts, Taxes and Official Documents
Another common story involves a financial obstacle that supposedly prevents the woman from traveling or starting a new life.
She may send:
- a bank-debt certificate;
- a tax notice;
- a court document;
- a lawyer’s letter;
- a military fine;
- a bailiff notice;
- a property document;
- a loan agreement.
The document may contain correct Ukrainian terminology, QR codes, stamps, signatures and payment details.
That does not prove that the debt exists or that an Australian boyfriend should pay it.
Never pay a Ukrainian bank, tax, court or legal debt to a private card, friend, lawyer, agent or cryptocurrency wallet without independent verification.
7. Paid-Chat and Agency-Controlled Communication
Some international platforms charge for messages, photographs, video communication or gifts.
Charging for communication is not automatically fraudulent. However, the commercial model may create a financial incentive for communication to remain on the platform.
A real woman may appear in the profile while:
- messages are translated or written by an operator;
- an agency manages the profile;
- several people respond to the same client;
- the woman participates in video calls but does not write the messages;
- the relationship never progresses toward direct contact or a meeting.
Message volume does not prove romantic intent. Measure whether the relationship is producing independently verifiable identity information and realistic progress toward a meeting.
8. Cryptocurrency and Investment Fraud
Some romance scammers do not immediately ask for emergency money. They introduce cryptocurrency, forex or another investment after establishing trust.
The woman may claim that:
- she earns regular profits through a special platform;
- a relative has access to private financial information;
- she will teach you how to invest;
- you must deposit more before withdrawing;
- taxes or account-unlocking fees must be paid;
- the opportunity is only available for a limited time.
The trading dashboard may display false profits while withdrawals remain impossible.
Do not transfer cryptocurrency or provide access to an exchange account because of a romantic relationship.
Bank Transfers, Gift Cards and Crypto
Scamwatch warns that relationship scammers may request money, financial information, cryptocurrency investments or transfers made on their behalf.
Be especially careful when the woman requests:
- an international bank transfer;
- payment to an account in another country;
- Western Union or another money-transfer service;
- Apple, Google Play, Steam, Razer Gold or other gift cards;
- cryptocurrency;
- a payment app;
- money sent to a friend, driver, relative, lawyer or agent;
- access to your bank account;
- help receiving or forwarding funds.
Never agree to receive and transfer money for an online partner. You may be used as a money mule and become involved in money laundering.
The payment method is not the only issue. You must verify the woman, the reason for payment and the true recipient.
What a Video Call Proves
A normal live video call can confirm that a woman resembling the photographs is available at that moment.
It does not automatically prove:
- her full legal name;
- her date of birth;
- her citizenship;
- her current city;
- her marital status;
- who writes the messages;
- whether another person manages the account;
- whether her passport is genuine;
- whether her financial emergency is real;
- whether she intends to travel to Australia.
A real woman can appear on camera while another person controls the written relationship or payment instructions.
What a Custom Selfie Proves
A photograph showing the woman holding your name and the current date can reduce the risk that someone is using only an old folder of stolen images.
It is not complete verification. A custom photograph can be:
- edited;
- AI-generated;
- created by the real woman for an operator;
- requested from a model who does not control the messages;
- taken only to keep a paying user engaged.
Use custom photographs and video calls as supporting evidence, not as substitutes for identity verification.
What Australian Men Should Verify Before Sending Money
| Her claim | What should be checked |
|---|---|
| She is the woman in the photographs | Photo ownership, legal identity, aliases and other profiles |
| She lives in Ukraine | Current location and whether her social history supports the claim |
| She is single | Available marital-status and family information |
| She has a specific occupation | Employment, professional history and consistency with her lifestyle |
| Her passport is genuine | Document format, photograph, visible security elements and identity connection |
| She needs medical help | Clinic, doctor, document, treatment and payment destination |
| She needs money to travel | Actual travel requirements, bookings, route, documents and recipient |
| She has a debt or legal problem | Document source, creditor, legal basis and official payment route |
| The relationship is exclusive | Other dating profiles, recent activity, names, ages and biographies |
| The money goes to her | Account ownership, recipient identity, country and connection to the woman |
A Realistic Meeting Plan
A serious international relationship should eventually produce a clear meeting plan.
The plan should answer:
- In which country and city will you meet?
- What dates are realistic?
- Who will travel?
- Where will each person stay?
- Which visa or travel documents are actually required?
- Who is responsible for each expense?
- Can you book your own hotel and flights?
- Can the woman contribute to or arrange part of the plan?
- What happens if the trip is postponed?
Statements such as “soon,” “after one more payment,” “when the war ends” or “after my documents are ready” are not complete meeting plans.
How Ukrainian Passport Verifies a Woman
Our Full Woman Verification is designed for men who need an independent answer before sending money, buying tickets or planning international travel.
For an Australian client, send us:
- the dating or social-media profile link;
- all available photographs;
- her claimed name, age and city;
- phone numbers and email addresses;
- Telegram, WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram or TikTok accounts;
- relevant messages;
- passport, visa, ticket, medical or financial documents;
- details of any money request;
- the payment recipient’s information.
Depending on the available information, we may examine:
- the woman’s real identity;
- whether the photographs belong to her;
- other profiles using the same images;
- name, age, location and biography consistency;
- phone and email connections;
- social-media history;
- dating-site and agency activity;
- possible webcam or adult-content connections;
- passport and document authenticity;
- known scam reports;
- payment recipients and third-party risks;
- contradictions in the relationship story.
The woman is not contacted as part of the standard private verification.
| Your situation | Recommended service | Price in USD |
|---|---|---|
| You need to verify the woman, profile, contacts and background | Full Woman Verification | $195 |
| You only have photographs | Identify a Person by Picture | $80 |
| You have long correspondence and several suspicious documents | Chat and Document Analysis | $299 |
| You already lost money and need a practical action plan | Scam Action Roadmap | $400 |
What to Do If You Already Sent Money
- Stop all additional payments. Do not send one final payment to resolve the emergency.
- Contact your bank or card provider immediately. Ask whether the transaction can be stopped, recalled, disputed or flagged.
- Stop communicating about money. Do not provide further banking or identity information.
- Save the complete conversation. Export chats and preserve emails rather than keeping only selected screenshots.
- Save the profiles. Record usernames, URLs, member IDs, photographs and biographies.
- Save all payment evidence. Keep receipts, recipient names, account numbers, transaction references and wallet addresses.
- Change compromised passwords. Start with banking, email and government accounts.
- Report the profile. Notify the dating site, social-media platform or messenger used by the person.
- Report the cybercrime. Use ReportCyber if you lost money or personal information.
- Report the scam to Scamwatch. Your report can help Australian authorities identify and disrupt similar scams.
- Contact IDCARE. Seek support if identity documents, banking data or personal information were exposed.
Scamwatch vs ReportCyber: Where Should Australians Report?
| Situation | Recommended action |
|---|---|
| You received suspicious messages or identified a possible relationship scam | Report the activity to Scamwatch and the dating or social-media platform |
| You lost money through an online scam or cybercrime | Contact your bank immediately and complete a report through ReportCyber |
| You shared passport, driver licence, Medicare, banking or identity information | Secure your accounts and contact IDCARE |
| You sent intimate photographs or are being threatened with publication | Preserve the evidence and seek assistance from the eSafety Commissioner |
| You or another person is in immediate physical danger | Call 000 |
A Scamwatch submission is not an official police report. Scamwatch collects information to identify trends, warn the public and support disruption activity. If you have lost money or identity information through cybercrime, also complete a ReportCyber report.
When to Contact IDCARE
IDCARE is Australia’s national identity and cyber support service.
Contact IDCARE if you supplied:
- a passport copy;
- a driver licence;
- Medicare information;
- a tax file number;
- banking details;
- credit-card information;
- online account credentials;
- verification codes;
- remote access to your device.
IDCARE can help create a response plan to reduce further identity and financial harm. Australian individuals can use the IDCARE Get Help service or call 1800 595 160.
What Evidence Should You Save?
- dating-profile URL and member ID;
- social-media usernames;
- complete chat exports;
- emails and email headers;
- phone numbers;
- photographs and videos;
- voice messages;
- passport and ID images;
- tickets, visas and reservations;
- medical or legal documents;
- bank-account details;
- gift-card numbers and receipts;
- cryptocurrency wallet addresses and transaction IDs;
- names of friends, lawyers, agents or other payment recipients;
- dates and explanations connected to every payment.
Do not immediately warn the person that you are collecting evidence. Profiles, messages and payment information may disappear.
Search the Ukrainian Scammer Blacklist
Search our Ukrainian and Russian dating scammer blacklist using the woman’s name, photographs, phone number, email, city or dating-site username.
A missing result does not prove that the woman is genuine. The identity may be new, unreported or operating under another name.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Ukrainian dating sites safe for Australian men?
Some platforms contain genuine users, but the platform name does not verify every profile. The woman’s identity, photographs, contacts, documents and financial story should be checked separately.
Does a Ukrainian passport prove that she is real?
No. The passport may be fabricated, altered, stolen or unrelated to the person communicating with you. Even a genuine passport does not prove that a travel or money request is legitimate.
Should I send money for her Australian visa?
Do not send money before verifying the woman, the actual visa requirement, the application, the payment recipient and any supporting documents.
Does a video call prove that she is genuine?
A live call can confirm that a woman resembling the photographs is available. It does not verify her full identity, marital status, location, documents, financial emergency or control of the written messages.
Can a real Ukrainian woman have genuine financial problems?
Yes. A request for help is not automatic proof of fraud. The concern is a pattern involving an unverified identity, urgent payments, contradictory explanations and no realistic progress toward a meeting.
Should I report a romance scam to Scamwatch or ReportCyber?
Report suspicious scam activity to Scamwatch. If you lost money or identity information through an online scam, contact your bank and also report the cybercrime through ReportCyber.
What if I already sent a copy of my Australian passport?
Secure your accounts, contact IDCARE, monitor your credit information and report the incident through ReportCyber if your identity may be at risk.
Final Advice for Australian Men
An online relationship with a Ukrainian woman can be genuine. Nationality, distance and the war do not automatically make a person dishonest.
But an attractive profile, emotional messages, a video call and a passport photograph are not enough to justify an international payment.
Verify:
- the woman’s real identity;
- the ownership of the photographs;
- her current location;
- her dating and social-media history;
- her passport and supporting documents;
- the reason for the requested money;
- the true payment recipient;
- the realistic plan for meeting.
Do not let distance turn trust into guesswork. Verify the woman before sending another dollar.
Corrections and Right of Reply
This article provides general online-dating safety information for Australian readers. It does not claim that Ukrainian women as a group, or any dating platform as a whole, are involved in fraud.
A person or organization mentioned in this article may contact Ukrainian Passport with specific, verifiable information supporting a factual correction. Credible evidence will be reviewed and the article will be updated when appropriate.
