What is it?

You’re convinced to make a payment to a person you’ve met either through social media platforms, dating websites and apps or gaming sites. Fake profiles are used by criminals in an attempt to build a relationship with you – this is also often known as catfishing. Criminals use information found on social media to create fake identities to target you with a scam, looking for profiles that say you’re ‘widowed’ or ‘divorced’.

They often go to great lengths to gain your trust and convince you that you’re in a genuine relationship before appealing to your compassionate side to ask for money. Criminals will use language to manipulate, persuade and exploit so that requests for money do not raise alarm bells. These requests might be highly emotive, such as criminals claiming they need money for emergency medical care, or to pay for transport costs to visit you if they are overseas.

How to spot romance Fraud?

1. You’ve met someone online and they declare strong feelings for you after a few conversations
2. They suggest moving the conversation away from the dating website or social media to a more private channel such as email, phone or instant messaging
3. Their profile on the internet dating website or their social media page isn’t consistent with what they tell you
4. There are spelling and grammar mistakes, inconsistencies in their stories and they make claims such as their camera isn’t working
5. They refuse to video call/meet you in person
6. Photos generally tend to be stolen from other people
7. You’re asked to send money to someone you have not met face-to-face, either through bank/money transfer or through the purchase of gift cards or presents such as phones and laptops. You may even be asked to provide them with access to your bank account or card
8. Upon questioning your friend or family member, they may become very secretive about their relationship or provide excuses for why their online partner has not video called or met them in person. They might become hostile or angry, and withdraw from conversation when you ask any questions about their partner
9. They try to persuade you to make an investment, often saying it is easy or guarantees high returns

Example of romance fraud

Emma* signed up to an online dating website where she met an aid worker on duty in Iraq called ‘John’. Soon after befriending Emma, John told her that he’d lost his wife and brother to cancer, a story which was very similar to her own. They spoke nearly every day and planned to meet in the UK.

One day Emma received an email from John telling her that he’d been involved in an accident and that he needed an urgent operation. It was life or death. He told her he didn’t have the money to pay and asked if she could send him £5,000. Emma agreed and sent the money through a bank transfer.

Soon after Emma had transferred the money, John told her he needed more to cover hospital bills and convinced Emma to send a further £5,000, assuring her that he’d pay her back when he arrived in the UK.

John never contacted her again. His profile disappeared and he stopped replying to any of Emma’s messages or phone calls.

*Case studies are based on insights from partners

If you believe you’ve fallen for a scam, contact your bank immediately on a number you know to be correct, such as the one listed on your statement, their website or on the back of your debit or credit card.

Report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or via actionfraud.police.uk. If you are in Scotland, please report to Police Scotland directly by calling 101 or Advice Direct Scotland on 0808 164 6000.