Dating and romance fraud is a type of online scam that preys on people seeking love and companionship. It is estimated that thousands of people fall victim to this type of fraud every year in the United Kingdom, with victims losing millions of pounds to scammers.
The scam typically starts when a fraudster creates a fake online dating profile and begins to establish a relationship with their victim. They may communicate via email, social media, or dating apps, and will often spend weeks or months building up a rapport with their victim before asking for money or personal information.
The fraudster may claim to be in financial trouble, have a sick relative, or have some other kind of emergency that requires money. They may also ask their victim to send personal information, such as their bank details, passport, or other forms of identification. Once the victim has sent money or personal information, the fraudster will often disappear, leaving the victim feeling embarrassed, humiliated, and out of pocket.
To avoid falling victim to dating and romance fraud, it is important to be aware of the signs of a scam. Here are some things to look out for:
- They ask for money – Be wary of anyone who asks for money, even if they claim to have an emergency. Never send money to someone you have not met in person.
- They move the conversation off the dating site – Scammers will often try to move the conversation to email or social media. This allows them to avoid detection by the dating site’s security measures.
- They have a suspicious profile – Scammers often use fake profile pictures and may use stolen photos from other people’s social media profiles. They may also have a profile that appears too good to be true, with exaggerated claims about their wealth, education, or career.
- They avoid video calls – If someone you are talking to refuses to do a video call, this may be a sign that they are not who they say they are.
- They use emotional manipulation – Scammers will often try to gain their victim’s trust by showering them with compliments and attention. They may also try to guilt-trip their victim into sending money.
The UK government and police are working to raise awareness of dating and romance fraud and to support victims. The City of London Police runs the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau, which collects data on scams and provides advice to the public on how to stay safe online. The government has also launched the “Take Five to Stop Fraud” campaign, which encourages people to take five minutes before responding to any unexpected requests for money or personal information.
If you think you have been the victim of dating and romance fraud, it is important to report it to the police. They may be able to recover any money that has been lost and help to identify and prosecute the fraudster.