Romance Fraud cost victims over £50m in 2018
14 February 2019
Online dating is a great way to meet new people. It’s convenient, offers a wide choice of potential suitors and is also a great way to communicate when developing a relationship. It can often lead to a long-lasting or even lifelong partnership.
Romance Fraud happens when people are tricked into thinking they have found an ideal partner on a dating app, only to be scammed out of money once criminals have gained their trust. In some cases, they can gather enough information to steal your identity.
Action Fraud say that on average last year, each victim lost £11,145 – and that is increasing compared to 2016. Almost two-thirds (63%) of victims are female, and the average age is 50. Unfortunately, women are twice as likely to be scammed compared to men.
But you don’t need to get caught out. Head to our Fraud Campaign pages, to read the hints and tips to spot romance fraud, avoid it, and what to do if you think you might have been caught out.
Romance Fraud: guide for safer online dating
Our top tips for avoiding Romance Fraud
If your online match sounds like any of these, they could be trying to scam you. Head to one of the links above to find out what you should do next.
- Your match sends lots of messages, but always has an excuse why they can’t meet face-to-face.
- They ask lots of questions about you, but hardly give anything away about themselves.
- You are being asked to send money or give them access to your bank account, despite never having met them in real life.
- They ask you not to mention them to your friends and family.