Romance scammers can be found on social media or dating websites and will try to develop a romantic relationship with you. Once they’ve gained your trust, they might ask for money or help paying bills or rent.
How to protect yourself
Watch out for warning signs like declarations of love after a short period of time. They might also request money for travel costs so they can come to visit you, or to pay for medical treatment for sick relatives, or general requests for cash that become more frequent over time.
You can check their other social media accounts to see if they appear real, and try a reverse image search on their profile picture (TinEye or reverse.photos) to see if they are who they say they are.
What to do
Trust your instincts. If you meet someone online and they ask for money, don’t send any, give them your bank details or let them send money to you. They might not be who they say they are.
If you think you’ve been scammed, report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 and the dating website administrators.
Find out more about how to stay safe from romance scams on the Action Fraud website or download the Thames Valley Police Romance Fraud PDF guide.