Romance fraud up 9% - what you can do to help protect yourself

Romance scams are making headlines more than ever. Just this week, it was reported that one victim made 403 payments to a fraudster over a single year, losing more than £72,000.

According to City of London Police, people in the UK lost a total of £106m to romance scams in 2024/25. That’s a 9% increase compared to the previous year. On average, each victim lost £11,222.

What is a romance scam?

A romance scam is when a fraudster pretends to be someone else to form a fake romantic relationship, usually online, with the goal of stealing money.

They often target people through:

• dating apps
• social media
• online forums
• even gaming platforms

Once trust is built, the scammer asks for money, usually claiming it's for an emergency or urgent problem.

The FCA’s review of romance fraud

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has reviewed how banks and payment firms respond to romance fraud. While it has seen examples of banks going to lengths to protect those vulnerable to romance fraud, it found that opportunities to stop these scams are sometimes missed.

The FCA recommends that financial firms:

• use better fraud detection and monitoring systems
• train staff to spot the warning signs
• identify vulnerable customers early
• provide compassionate aftercare

Why it’s hard to step in

Victims often don’t realise, or don’t want to believe, they’re being scammed. In nearly 42% of cases reviewed by the FCA, victims didn’t tell the real reason for their payments, making it harder for banks to intervene.

Protect yourself from romance scams

There are steps you can take to help protect yourself from this type of fraud.

Common fake jobs romance scammers claim

Being aware of the common jobs scammers pretend to have is one step. According to Lloyds Bank data, typical fake professions include:

• military personnel, often claiming to be stationed overseas
• oil rig workers, who say poor connectivity or dangerous conditions prevent frequent communication
• other popular fake jobs include engineers, doctors and business owners, often pretending to be working abroad or involved in humanitarian missions

Excuses scammers use to ask for money

Once trust is built, they may ask for money using urgent and emotional stories, such as:

• Medical emergencies, often involving a supposed accident or sudden illness. For example, they may claim to have been in a car crash.
• Travel or living expenses, such as needing help with plane tickets to visit, or being short on money for rent or food.
• Legal or financial issues, such as needing to pay customs fees, taxes, or deal with a business problem.

These excuses are carefully crafted to create urgency and gain sympathy.

Red flags to watch for

Here are signs you may be dealing with a romance scammer:

• Love bombing: they quickly declare deep feelings and shower you with compliments.
• Wanting to move off the dating platform: they push to continue chatting on WhatsApp, email or text.
• Avoiding video calls or real-life meetings: they always have an excuse not to meet.
• Inconsistent stories: their job, location or life details don’t add up.
• Isolation tactics: they ask you to keep the relationship secret.
• Vague personal information: they avoid giving a full name, address, or workplace.

Tips to stay safe

• take your time getting to know someone, don’t rush
• ask questions and check their stories
• stay on the dating platform until you're sure the person is real
• never share your personal or banking details
• be cautious of any request for money, gift cards, or wire transfers

Reporting a scam 

Reporting scams can save other people from getting tricked. Don’t be embarrassed about reporting a scam, as they’re designed so that anyone can fall for them. 

• You can report the scam to Citizens Advice and they’ll pass information onto Trading Standards who will decide whether or not to investigate.  

• It’s also a good idea to report scams to Action Fraud on their website or by calling 0300 123 2040.  

• If you spot an online scam advert, you can report it to the Advertising Standards Authority. 

Get more tips on avoiding falling victim to scams in our guide on how to outsmart online scammers.