Swipe left on romance fraud this Valentine’s Day

This Valentine’s Day, we want to ensure the right people are getting your love.

Romance fraud is one of the highest reported frauds in Surrey and Sussex. Last year we received over 600 reports, and the victims suffered a total financial loss of over £7 million.

Whilst victims of romance fraud can be any age, most of our reports come from the over 50s. However, it is a common misconception that this crime type favours women, and our reports show a near even split, with 48% male victims and 52% female victims.

Fraudsters make contact through various means including dating sites, social media platforms, and in person. They will research social media or dating profiles in order to present themselves as the ‘perfect match’, and swiftly encourage victims to move to messaging on less monitored apps such as WhatsApp, Google Hangouts, and Telegram. 

Requests for money do not happen straightaway. A fraudster will make sure they know their victim well first, establishing what appears to be a genuine relationship over several weeks or even months. This is known as ‘the grooming period’.

They may use language to manipulate, persuade, and exploit so subsequent requests for money do not raise alarm bells. Payment is commonly made through bank transfers, but last year gift cards including iTunes vouchers became the fastest growing payment type.

One such victim in Sussex sent a fraudster over £100,000 through gift cards. We have shared her story below:

In March 2022 the victim accepted a friend request on a Facebook group for dog lovers, and this friendship developed into what she believed to be a genuine relationship. The scammer told her he worked overseas as an engineer & oil rig contractor, and often claimed to be in poor health or that his money had been frozen.

Wanting to help, the victim was instructed to purchase Apple iTunes vouchers, and shared the barcodes with the scammer so he was able to cash them. She also sent over additional sums of money, thinking she was paying for hospital bills for transfusions and other procedures. The scammer also claimed his ‘daughter’ was in a coma and an alleged doctor contacted the victim requesting that she pay the medical bills.

The manipulative and coercive pleas from the scammer had such an impact on the victim that she ended up taking out a £32,000 mortgage on her home and a £12,00 bank loan. She sold shares, borrowed money from relatives, and pawned family jewellery, and was constantly in her overdraft. Eventually her family became aware of the extent of the fraud and it was reported to police.

Financial Abuse Safeguarding Officer Bernadette Lawrie said:

“This is a horrible crime type preying on people at their most vulnerable. Fraudsters manipulate and isolate their victims, often encouraging secrecy from family members, which can result in a breakdown of their support network and relationships. The impact is far more than purely financial, with victims suffering long-term effects to their physical and mental wellbeing. It can take a long time for trust and confidence to be rebuilt. “

No matter how long you have been talking to someone online and how much you think you trust them, if you have not met in person, it is important that you do not:

• Send them any money
• Allow them access to your bank account
• Transfer money on their behalf
• Take out a loan for them
• Provide copies of your personal documents eg. passport, driving licence etc.
• Invest your own money on their behalf or on their advice
• Purchase and send the codes on gift cards such as Amazon or iTunes vouchers
• Agree to receive and / or send parcels on their behalf (laptops, mobile phones etc.)

Always remember DATES:

D - Don’t rush into an online relationship

Get to know the person not the profile

A - Analyse their profile

Protect yourself by confirming their identity

T - Talk to Friends and Family

Be wary of anyone who tells you not to tell others about them

E - Evade the scammers

Never send money or share your bank details with someone you’ve only met online

S - Stay on the dating messenger service

Fraudsters will often encourage their victims to use different communication platforms that are often undetectable.

For more information about protecting yourself from romance fraud, visit https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/a-z-of-fraud/dating-fraud

If you think you have been a victim of a romance scam, do not feel ashamed or embarrassed - you are not alone. Contact your bank immediately and report it to Surrey Police via:

• Webchat on our website: https://www.surrey.police.uk/
• Our online reporting tool: https://www.surrey.police.uk/ro/report/fo/v2/report-fraud-bribery-corruption/
• Calling 101