A passport photograph, video call or emotional travel story should not replace independent verification.

People across the UK reported losing more than £102 million to romance fraud during 2025. Report Fraud received 10,784 reports—29% more than in the previous year—and the average reported loss was approximately £9,500.

People aged 55 to 74 accounted for nearly half of the total reported money stolen. The figures cover romance fraud involving many countries, identities and platforms. They do not mean that Ukrainian women as a group are responsible for those losses.

Most Ukrainian women using dating sites and social media are ordinary people. The relevant question is whether the specific woman, photographs, identity, documents, relationship promises and requests for money presented to you are genuine.

Last updated: July 23, 2026.

All Ukrainian Passport service prices shown on this page are in US dollars. UK fraud statistics and locally reported losses are shown in pounds sterling.

Quick verdict for UK men: do not send money, gift cards, cryptocurrency, banking information or identity documents to an online partner you have never met and independently verified. A video call or passport photograph is not a complete identity check.

Verify a Ukrainian or Russian Woman — $195

Romance Fraud in the UK

According to the City of London Police, reported UK romance-fraud losses exceeded £102 million in 2025.

The 10,784 reports submitted during the year represented a 29% increase compared with 2024. Victims reported losing an average of approximately £9,500, while some individual cases reached £1 million.

Official information is available in the Report Fraud romance-fraud statistics release.

Romance scams can begin through:

international dating websites;
Tinder, Bumble or Badoo;
Facebook and Instagram;
TikTok;
Telegram and WhatsApp;
webcam and adult-content platforms;
email or text messages;
fake cryptocurrency and investment platforms.

The person communicating with you may be:

the woman shown in the photographs;
someone using stolen photographs of a real woman;
a real woman using a false biography;
an agency employee or translator;
an operator managing several dating profiles;
a person using edited or AI-generated media;
a criminal group operating from another country.

How Ukrainian Dating Scams Reach UK Men

A typical profile presents an attractive Ukrainian woman who says she wants a serious relationship with a reliable foreign man.

She may claim that:

she wants to marry and build a life in the UK;
she has family or friends in London or another UK city;
the war has made it impossible to remain in Ukraine;
she wants a safer future for herself and her child;
she needs help obtaining travel documents;
she has never felt such a strong emotional connection;
one final problem must be resolved before the meeting.

Distance, unfamiliar Ukrainian documents, international payments, war-related stories and limited opportunities to meet can make independent verification difficult for UK residents.

The risk does not come from Ukrainian nationality. It comes from an unverified identity combined with financial pressure, contradictory explanations and no realistic progress toward an in-person relationship.

Common Ukrainian Dating Scam Patterns in the UK

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 may be copied from:

Instagram;
Facebook;
TikTok;
modeling portfolios;
dating websites;
webcam platforms;
OnlyFans;
private social-media accounts.

The images can then be combined with a new name, age, city, occupation and personal history.

Warning signs include:

the same face appearing under several names;
different ages or cities on separate profiles;
professional photographs but little normal social history;
few believable interactions with friends or relatives;
no evidence connecting the photographs to the claimed legal identity;
a recently created account filled with older photographs.

If photographs are your main source of information, use our Identify a Person by Picture service.

2. A Real Woman With a False Story

A normal video call does not prove that every part of the woman’s biography is accurate.

The person appearing on camera may use:

a false surname;
a different date of birth;
a false Ukrainian city;
false employment;
undisclosed marriage or relationships;
different information about children;
several active dating profiles;
an agency or operator to write messages;
a romantic presentation designed primarily to generate income.

A real face does not make every statement true.

3. Telegram and WhatsApp Relationships

Many legitimate people use Telegram and WhatsApp. Moving a conversation to a private messenger is not proof of fraud.

The risk increases when the move is followed by:

rapid declarations of love;
pressure to keep the relationship secret;
changing phone numbers or usernames;
different writing styles;
avoidance of unscripted communication;
requests for money;
accounts that disappear after payment;
another person becoming involved in the transfer.

A private messenger can also make it easier for a dating profile to disappear without preserving the original platform conversation.

Before leaving a dating site, save:

the profile URL;
member ID;
username;
biography;
photographs;
the first messages;
the date when communication moved elsewhere.

4. Fake Ukrainian Passports and ID Cards

A woman may send a passport selfie, a close-up of the data page or a short video showing a Ukrainian passport.

The document may be:

completely fabricated;
digitally altered;
created from an online template;
modified with AI or graphic software;
stolen from another person;
genuine but unrelated to the dating profile;
genuine while the surrounding financial story remains false;
expired, invalid or canceled.

A passport photograph is only one part of the investigation. It does not prove:

who controls the messages;
who owns the dating account;
where the woman currently lives;
whether she is single;
whether her UK travel plan is genuine;
whether the payment request is legitimate.

If you received a Ukrainian passport or ID card, use our Ukrainian Passport Verification service.

5. UK Visa and Travel Requests

The woman may say that she is ready to meet but needs money for:

a Standard Visitor visa;
passport renewal;
biometrics;
translations or notarization;
medical examinations;
travel insurance;
airline tickets;
accommodation;
proof of funds;
a migration consultant;
transportation to a visa center or airport.

A visa screenshot, appointment letter, ticket, hotel reservation or invoice does not independently prove that the application or trip is genuine.

UK visitor visa applications are made through the official government process. Current eligibility, application rules and fees can be checked on the GOV.UK Standard Visitor visa page.

Official UK immigration fees should not be paid to:

a private Ukrainian bank card;
a dating agency;
a friend or relative;
a supposed border official;
a lawyer who cannot be independently verified;
a cryptocurrency wallet.

6. War, Evacuation and Relocation Stories

The war in Ukraine has caused genuine danger, displacement and financial hardship. Scammers exploit that reality because events in a distant city can be difficult for a UK resident to confirm.

Requests may involve:

evacuation from a dangerous region;
a driver to reach Poland, Romania or Moldova;
temporary housing;
food, medication or clothing;
support for a child or parent;
a new passport;
border documents;
a deposit for accommodation in the UK;
travel to meet the man.

A war-related story is not automatic proof of fraud. The warning sign is the connected pattern: an unverified identity, urgent payments, changing explanations and no independent evidence.

7. Medical, Tax and Bank-Debt Documents

Another common story involves an official-looking financial obstacle that supposedly prevents the woman from traveling.

She may send:

a hospital invoice;
a medical certificate;
a tax notice;
a bank-debt certificate;
a loan agreement;
a court document;
a lawyer’s letter;
a bailiff notice;
a military or government document.

The document may contain correct Ukrainian words, stamps, signatures, QR codes and bank details.

That does not prove that the debt exists or that a UK boyfriend should pay it.

Never pay a supposed Ukrainian tax, debt, court fee or medical bill to a private recipient without independently verifying:

the woman’s identity;
the issuing organization;
the document;
the legal basis for the payment;
the true recipient.

8. Paid-Chat and Agency-Controlled Communication

Some international dating platforms charge for messages, photographs, videos, translations or gifts.

Paid communication is not automatically fraudulent. However, the business model may create a financial incentive to keep the relationship on the platform.

A real woman may appear in the profile while:

an agency controls the account;
a translator writes part of the correspondence;
several people respond to the same client;
the woman appears in videos but does not write the daily messages;
direct contact is repeatedly delayed;
the relationship never progresses toward a meeting.

The number of paid messages does not prove romantic intent.

9. Romance and Cryptocurrency Investment Fraud

Some scammers do not begin with travel or emergency requests. They introduce cryptocurrency, forex or another investment after establishing emotional trust.

The woman may claim that:

she earns reliable profits through a special platform;
a relative has private financial knowledge;
she can teach you how to invest;
a larger deposit is needed before withdrawal;
taxes or account-unlocking fees must be paid;
the investment opportunity is available for a limited time.

The trading dashboard may display invented profits while withdrawals remain impossible.

Do not give an online partner access to your exchange account, cryptocurrency wallet, online banking or verification codes.

Bank Transfers, Gift Cards and Cryptocurrency

A UK victim may be asked to pay through:

Faster Payments;
CHAPS;
an international bank transfer;
Western Union or another money-transfer service;
credit or debit card;
Apple, Google Play, Steam or other gift cards;
Bitcoin, USDT or another cryptocurrency;
a payment application;
an account controlled by a friend, driver, lawyer or agent.

A UK bank account does not prove that the woman lives in the UK or owns the account. The recipient may be a money mule, intermediary or unrelated third party.

Do not agree to receive and forward money for an online partner. You may unknowingly become involved in money laundering or the transfer of criminal proceeds.

Verify three things before paying: the person, the reason for payment and the real recipient.

What a Video Call Does and Does Not Prove

A normal unscripted video call can confirm that a woman resembling the photographs is available at that moment.

It does not automatically prove:

her full legal identity;
her surname or date of birth;
her citizenship;
her current city;
her marital status;
who writes the daily messages;
whether an agency controls the account;
whether her passport is genuine;
whether her financial emergency is real;
whether she intends to travel to the UK.

A real woman can appear on camera while another person controls the written relationship or payment instructions.

What a Custom Selfie Proves

A custom photograph showing the woman holding your name and the current date may reduce the risk that someone is using only an old collection of stolen images.

It is not complete verification. The image may be:

digitally 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 an identity investigation.

Real UK-Related Cases From Our Scammer Blacklist

The cases below are based on reports and materials published in our Ukrainian and Russian dating scammer blacklist.

A name or photograph used in a scam may not always identify the person who actually controlled the messages. Each profile should therefore be treated as a reported identity and investigated separately.

Yuliia Tretiak / Daria_6677 — UK Visa, Passport and Cat Travel Story

This reported case involved communication through WhatsApp and Telegram. The profile discussed meeting in Warsaw and later traveling to the UK.

The requested expenses reportedly included a visa, biometric passport, official documents, airline tickets, medical insurance, cat vaccinations and a pet passport. The travel story gradually expanded until the relationship could supposedly move forward only after the man paid.

Tetiana Kushnir — Passport, Warsaw Travel and Tax-Debt Requests

This reported profile claimed to be from Zhytomyr and requested money for a biometric passport, transportation to Warsaw and later travel to the UK.

After the initial travel expenses, another alleged obstacle appeared: a major Ukrainian tax debt that supposedly prevented the woman from leaving the country. The story was supported with suspicious documents and payment requests through Western Union or bank transfers.

Olena Rikhazova — Fake Tax Debt and Counterfeit Payment Documents

This reported case used an alleged Ukrainian tax debt as the reason the woman could not travel. The story was supported with supposed tax-office documents, bank payment orders and receipts claiming that part of the debt had been paid.

The case illustrates how several related documents can be used together to create the appearance of a genuine official problem.

These profiles do not prove that every woman using a travel, tax or passport story is dishonest. They demonstrate why identity, documents, payment instructions and relationship promises must be checked together.

What UK Men Should Verify Before Sending Money

Her claim	What should be checked
She is the woman in the photographs	Photo ownership, real identity, aliases and other profiles
She lives in Ukraine	Current location and whether her online history supports the claim
She is single	Available marital-status, partner and family information
She has a specific occupation	Employment history and consistency with her biography
Her passport is genuine	Document format, photograph, visible security elements and identity connection
She needs a UK visa	Current GOV.UK requirements, application status, official fee and payment route
She needs medical help	Clinic, doctor, document, treatment and payment recipient
She has a tax or bank debt	Document source, creditor, legal basis and official payment destination
The relationship is exclusive	Other dating profiles, recent activity, names, ages and biographies
The payment 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 specific meeting plan.

The plan should answer:

In which city and country will you meet?
What dates are realistic?
Who will travel?
Where will each person stay?
Which immigration documents are actually required?
Who is responsible for each expense?
Can you book your own flights and accommodation?
Can the woman contribute to or arrange part of the plan?
What happens if the trip is postponed?

Statements such as “soon,” “after one final payment,” “after my debt is cleared” or “when my documents are ready” are not complete plans.

How Ukrainian Passport Can Help UK Clients

Our Full Woman Verification is designed for men who need an independent answer before sending money, purchasing tickets or making an international commitment.

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 correspondence;
passport, visa, ticket, medical, tax or financial documents;
details of money requests;
payment-recipient 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 photographs;
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 during the standard private verification. Results are normally prepared within 24 hours after payment confirmation and receipt of the required materials.

Your situation	Recommended service	Price in USD
You need to verify the woman, profiles, contacts and background	Full Woman Verification	$195
You only have photographs	Identify a Person by Picture	$80
You received a Ukrainian passport or ID card	Ukrainian Passport Verification	$90
You have long chats and several suspicious documents	Chat and Document Analysis	$299
You already lost money and need a practical action plan	Scam Action Roadmap	$400

Order Full Woman Verification — $195

What to Do If You Already Sent Money

Stop all additional payments. Do not send one final payment to solve the latest problem.
Contact your bank immediately. Use a telephone number from the bank’s official website, app or the back of your card.
Ask for the fraud team. Explain that the payment was connected to an online romance scam.
Ask whether the payment can be stopped or recalled. Speed can affect the chance of recovery.
Ask whether APP reimbursement rules apply. Eligibility depends on the payment system and circumstances.
Contact the gift-card issuer. Keep the card and receipt and ask whether the remaining value can be frozen.
Notify the cryptocurrency exchange. Preserve wallet addresses and transaction IDs.
Save the complete correspondence. Export chats and emails rather than keeping only selected screenshots.
Save every profile. Record URLs, usernames, member IDs, photographs and biographies.
Save payment evidence. Keep recipient names, account details, receipts and transfer references.
Report the profile. Notify the dating site, social network or messenger.
Submit a fraud report. Use the correct police reporting route for your part of the UK.
Protect your identity. Take additional steps if you shared UK identity or financial documents.

Where Should UK Residents Report a Romance Scam?

Location or situation	Recommended action
England, Wales or Northern Ireland	Contact your bank and submit a report through Report Fraud
Scotland	Contact your bank and report the incident to Police Scotland online or by calling 101
Immediate danger or a crime in progress	Call 999
A bank transfer was made	Ask the bank whether the transfer can be recalled or considered under APP reimbursement protections
UK identity documents were shared	Secure your accounts, check your credit files and consider identity-protection measures
Intimate images are being used for blackmail	Preserve the evidence, do not make further payments and report the threats to police and the platform

Report Fraud accepts reports from England, Wales and Northern Ireland through its online reporting service. Advice is also available by calling 0300 123 2040.

People in Scotland should report romance fraud to Police Scotland online, by telephone or in person. The non-emergency telephone number is 101.

APP Scam Reimbursement

UK protections may require payment providers to reimburse eligible victims of authorised push payment fraud involving Faster Payments or CHAPS.

The maximum mandatory reimbursement level is generally £85,000 per eligible claim. A bank or payment provider may choose to reimburse more.

The protection is not a guarantee for every payment. Important limitations include:

the payment must fall within the scope of the reimbursement rules;
international transfers are not generally covered by the mandatory scheme;
payments made through other systems may be outside the rules;
cryptocurrency transfers are not automatically covered;
civil disputes are treated differently from fraud;
the bank will investigate the circumstances of the claim;
the customer may be asked to provide evidence and cooperate with the investigation.

Official consumer information is available from the Payment Systems Regulator.

Do not assume that reimbursement will solve the problem later. Verification before payment remains safer than attempting recovery afterward.

What to Do If You Shared UK Identity Documents

Take immediate action if you sent:

a UK passport copy;
a driving licence;
a bank statement;
credit or debit card information;
online banking credentials;
National Insurance information;
tax documents;
verification or security codes;
a selfie holding an identity document.

Change compromised passwords.
Enable multi-factor authentication.
Contact affected banks and account providers.
Check your credit files for unfamiliar applications or accounts.
Report lost or compromised identity documents to the appropriate issuer.
Preserve the profile and conversation as evidence.
Consider additional identity-fraud protection.

Cifas Protective Registration

Cifas Protective Registration places a warning flag against your name and personal information in the National Fraud Database.

Organizations using Cifas data may then perform additional identity checks when someone applies for a product or service using your details.

The service currently costs £30 for two years. It does not guarantee that every fraudulent application will be stopped, and legitimate applications may take longer because of the additional checks.

Details and the application form are available through the official Cifas Protective Registration page.

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;
visa documents and GOV.UK claims;
tickets and reservations;
medical, tax, bank or legal documents;
bank-account information;
gift-card receipts and serial numbers;
cryptocurrency wallet addresses and transaction IDs;
names of friends, lawyers, agents or other recipients;
the date and explanation 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 address, city or dating-site username.

A missing result does not prove that the woman is genuine. She may be unreported, using another identity or appearing under different contact information.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Ukrainian dating sites safe for UK 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 writing the messages. Even a genuine passport does not prove that a travel or money request is legitimate.

Should I pay for her UK visitor visa?

Do not pay before verifying the woman, the current GOV.UK requirements, the application, the official fee and the true payment recipient.

Does a video call prove that the woman is genuine?

A live call may confirm that a woman resembling the photographs is available. It does not verify her full identity, location, marital status, financial emergency or control of the written messages.

Is Telegram evidence that she is a scammer?

No. Telegram is used by many genuine people. The risk increases when Telegram communication is combined with changing identities, secrecy, payment requests and repeated avoidance of a meeting.

Can my bank refund a romance-scam transfer?

Possibly. Eligible UK domestic Faster Payments and CHAPS transactions may fall within APP reimbursement protections. Contact the bank immediately and ask the fraud team to investigate.

Where should someone in Scotland report romance fraud?

Contact the bank and report the incident to Police Scotland online, by telephone or in person. Call 101 for a non-emergency or 999 when there is immediate danger.

What if I already sent my passport copy?

Secure your accounts, change passwords, monitor your credit files, report the fraud and consider Cifas Protective Registration if your identity is at increased risk.

Final Advice for UK Men

An online relationship with a Ukrainian woman can be genuine. Nationality, distance and the war do not automatically make a person dishonest.

But emotional messages, video calls, passport photographs and promises of relocation are not enough to justify sending money.

Verify:

the woman’s real identity;
ownership of the photographs;
her current location;
her dating and social-media history;
her passport and supporting documents;
the UK visa or travel story;
the reason for the requested payment;
the true 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 UK readers. It does not claim that Ukrainian women as a group, or any dating platform as a whole, are involved in fraud.

The Blacklist examples are based on submitted reports and available case materials. A reported name or photograph may have been used without the knowledge of the real person shown.

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.