Go paper-free
Amend paper-free preferences for your statements and communications.
Romance scams
Fraudsters join dating apps and sites to create fake profiles.
They chat to connect with people, building a relationship before asking them for money.
What is a Romance scam?
Fraudsters build relationships online by chatting to people in a certain way.
It’s very hard for someone caught up in the scam to realise what’s happening, and family members can only help if they know about the relationship.
Know what to look out for
Mary's story
A real case of a romance scam.
“I joined a Facebook group of a film I loved and a member called Paul sent a private message. We stayed in the group until Paul suggested WhatsApp, where our chat became more about our lives.
We messaged daily and Paul shared photos of himself, some with his daughter. We even spoke on the phone, but Paul never wanted to video call.
Sadly, Paul’s bank account was blocked and he couldn’t get any money. He sent photos of bank statements showing £1 million was due to clear and more in savings. I agreed to help and sent gift cards and some money.
Then suddenly, Paul’s daughter fell ill and needed an urgent kidney transplant. I saw photos of her in hospital and the doctor caring for her sent a message. Paul was overseas with the army. He asked me to pay the hospital bill, promising to pay me back when his bank was okay to use again. I said yes and had to send money to a lady named Monique, who dealt with the payments for the hospital.
I couldn’t afford to send anymore, but Paul suggested I get a loan. This made me nervous, so I told my daughter who made me realise I’d been the victim of a romance scam.
I ended the relationship but lost over £14,500. If I hadn’t told my family, I could have lost a lot more than just my money.
It took me a while to get over Paul, but I’m happy now and with someone I’ve met in person who loves me. If a relationship feels pressured or secretive, never be afraid to talk to someone about it as it could be a fraudster.”
Support for victims of a romance scam
Being hurt by a romance scam won’t just affect you financially. Realising that a relationship is not real can trigger many challenging emotions. There’s nothing to be ashamed or embarrassed about, as romance scams are more common than you would think.
If you need to report a romance scam, you can call Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or visit actionfraud.police.uk in England and Wales. In Scotland, you can contact the police on 101.
Always phone 999 in an emergency.
Learn about other scams and how to protect yourself
Scam calls
Find out how fraudsters can use your details to win your trust.
Scam emails and texts
Fraudsters use scam emails and texts to steal your details.
Pension scams
Fraudsters can target your pension by pretending to be someone you trust.
Investment scams
Fraudsters may pretend to be a genuine company or adviser.
Protect your identity
Fraudsters want to steal your personal and banking details.
Protect your devices
Do you know how to keep your devices safe?
