By £1million lost to ‘romance scams’
Humberside Police have launched a peer support groups for victims of romance fraud, as locals report losses of over £1million to scams last year.
Romance fraud, or dating fraud, occurs when people think they have met the perfect partner online but their “date” is using a fake profile to form a relationship.
They gain the victims trust over weeks and months but the scammers end goal is to get the victims money or personal information.
In 2020 there were 73 reports of online romance fraud in the Humber region.
During the coronavirus pandemic, the number of people spending more time on dating apps has increased by 8% in Yorkshire and the Humber.
Detective Sergeant Ben Robinson, said:
“In the past year, the COVID-19 pandemic has made it genuinely harder to meet people in person.
“Loneliness has been a widely reported side effect of the pandemic and many people have taken to online dating for companionship.
“Unfortunately, we’ve seen that this has led to an increase in reports of romance scams and people losing money.
“Romance fraud is one of the most devastating for our victims to deal with because they have suffered losses both financially and emotionally.
“These scams can be extremely sophisticated and victims should not feel ashamed or embarrassed and shouldn’t blame themselves in any way.”
To protect yourself against this type of scam, Humberside Police have advised against sharing personal details such as your name, date or birth and address.
They have also advised against sending or receiving money to people you have met online, and against rushing into online relationships.
If you are concerned that you might have fallen victim to this kind of crime – don’t feel embarrassed, these fraudsters can be very convincing!
Report it to Action Fraud, the national fraud and cyber-crime reporting centre by calling 0300 123 2040, or find support by visiting Victim Support Humberside or by calling 0300 303 1976.
