People looking for love online have been warned to be on high alert for scammers this Valentine's Day after a 38% rise in romance fraud victims, according to data from Victim Support. The charity, the UK's biggest provider of services for crime victims, supported 322 victims in 2022, up from 233 in 2021.
One 39-year-old woman lost £4,000 after being contacted on Instagram by someone claiming to be in the US military. After declaring love, the scammer asked for money to leave the military to be with her. She later discovered multiple warnings about the same person on a romance scam website.
The charity has compiled red flags including early declarations of love, excessive flattery, requests to keep the relationship secret, and excuses to avoid video calls or meetings. Victims are urged to report rogue profiles to Scamalytics and Victim Support, and to contact their bank and Action Fraud if money is lost.
Lisa Mills, romance fraud expert at Victim Support, said: “Romance fraud is remarkably common and we often see spikes at times when people are feeling lonely or isolated. With Valentine’s Day approaching, we know that this can be a trigger for some people.”
