Love Scams Soar as Romance Fraud Rips Off Britons £66 Million
Think you’ve met Mr or Mrs Right online? Think again. Romance fraud is a nasty scam where con artists create fake profiles, pretending to be perfect partners. They play the long game, building trust over weeks or months—only to rip your heart out and empty your wallet.
Lockdown Love Leads to a Surge in Scams
Between August 2019 and 2020, over 400 reports of romance fraud flooded Action Fraud each month across the UK. Total losses shocked at £66 million—over £10,000 lost per victim on average. The summer months of 2020 saw a jump to over 600 monthly reports, as lonely lockdown Brits fell prey to sweet-talking scammers.
Romance fraud leaves emotional scars as deep as financial ones. Victims often feel stupid or ashamed, which stops many from speaking out. But experts warn: these scammers are master manipulators who spend hours digging into your details. Reporting is vital to stop others falling victim.
Wiltshire Sees Rise in Romance Scams—Victims Warned
Alison Wiles, Fraud Manager for Wiltshire Police, said:
“Dating app fraudsters are ruthless. They groom victims with persuasive talk, coaxing large sums of money or personal info from them. Victims often blame themselves, but this is highly sophisticated crime. No one should feel ashamed to report it.”
Over 12 months to August 2020, Wiltshire had 65 reports, a 7% rise in six months. Two-thirds of victims were women aged 40-49. Wiles added: “Know the signs. Protect yourself and your money.”
Spot the Red Flags: How to Outsmart Online Love Scammers
- Fast love: If someone quickly talks about marriage or buying a house, get suspicious. Don’t hand over personal details too soon.
- Overseas excuses: Beware of claims they work abroad in military or medical roles—they often use this to justify dodgy behaviour like poor signal or strange phone numbers.
- Avoiding meetings: Scammers dodge video calls and rush you onto encrypted apps where chats vanish. Stick to the dating site’s messaging until you’re sure.
- Emergency money pleas: They’ll spin heartbreaking tales to get cash. Never send money or trust profiles that look fake—use the platform’s reporting tools.
- Secretive love: If they tell you to hide the relationship from friends or family, alarm bells should ring. Your loved ones can often spot a fake faster than you.
Top hotspots for romance fraud are Facebook, Plenty of Fish, Instagram, Tinder, and Match.com.
Police Warn: Don’t Let Lockdown Loneliness Cost You Dearly
Police and Crime Commissioner Angus Macpherson said:
“The internet is brilliant for meeting people, but fraudsters exploit the desire for connection—especially during social restrictions. Using lockdown as bait to scam money is just not on.”
If you suspect someone is conning a loved one, report them anonymously to 123.
