Romance Fraud has increased throughout the government implemented coronavirus lockdown. Compared to 2019, the year 2020 saw a 20% increase in money being transferred as a result of romance scams. Scammers were targeting people on dating apps, pretending to want a relationship before asking for money. The UK’s Action Fraud reported that £68 million was lost throughout the entire year. People have been warned to be vigilant, especially now with Valentine’s Day just around the corner.
Online daters have been advised not to send any money or allow someone else to access their bank account, transfer money or take out a loan on their behalf or someone else. They should also not hand over any copies of personal documents, invest money in someone’s “business” or receive or send parcels on someone else’s behalf. The advice also suggests doing reverse image searches on a search engine to identify fake accounts, and contact their bank immediately if they believe they have become a victim of a Romance Scam.
