💔 ROMANCE SCAMS: THE £120M PROBLEM
Romance fraud is one of the UK’s most devastating scam types. In 2025 alone, fraudsters stole £119.6 million from victims through fake online relationships, according to Which? research. The average loss per victim exceeds £10,000.
Criminals create convincing fake personas on dating apps and social media, grooming victims over weeks or months before requesting money. Here’s how to spot them.
🚩 7 WARNING SIGNS
- 1. The relationship stays entirely online — They always have an excuse to avoid video calls or meeting in person. If weeks pass without a face-to-face interaction, that’s a major red flag.
- 2. Their photos seem too good to be true — Scammers use stolen images or AI-generated photos. Use Google Image Search or TinEye to reverse-search their profile pictures.
- 3. Dramatic sob stories — They claim to be stuck abroad, have a sick family member, or face a sudden emergency. These tales are designed to trigger sympathy and loosen your purse strings.
- 4. They ask for money early — Any request for money from someone you haven’t met in person is a massive warning sign. Legitimate partners don’t ask for bank transfers.
- 5. They want to move off the dating app — Scammers push to move conversations to WhatsApp or email quickly to avoid platform moderation and reporting.
- 6. Their profile is brand new — Few photos, sparse details, and recently created accounts are hallmarks of fake profiles.
- 7. They profess love unusually quickly — “Love bombing” is a manipulation tactic. Genuine connections take time to develop.
🛡️ WHAT TO DO IF YOU SUSPECT A SCAM
- Stop all communication immediately and do not send any more money.
- Report it to Action Fraud (0300 123 2040 or actionfraud.police.uk) and the dating platform.
- Contact your bank — they may be able to recover funds under APP fraud reimbursement rules.
- Talk to someone — Victim Support (0808 168 9111) offers free, confidential help.
Sources: Which?, Action Fraud, UK Finance Annual Fraud Report 2025, Victim Support