A Melbourne woman lost $646,035 to a romance scam. Should banks and dating apps be forced to refund victims like her? (opens original article in a new tab)

A Melbourne woman lost over half a million dollars to a romance scam on Hinge, with her bank and financial ombudsman refusing to refund the money, as new anti-scam laws are not yet in effect and may not cover dating apps.

• A Melbourne woman lost $646,035 to a romance scam involving a fake profile on Hinge.
• Australian anti-scam laws, set to take effect in 2027, may not cover dating apps and offer limited refunds.
• The woman's bank and financial ombudsman denied her refund request, citing lack of scam awareness at the time of transactions.