Nationally, victims of romance fraud had more than £102 million stolen from them last year, as criminals continue to exploit online relationships to manipulate people into transferring money, new figures from the City of London Police reveal.
In Lincolnshire, 137 victims reported losses totalling £899,361.
Data shows 10,784 reports of romance fraud were made to Report Fraud last year – a 29 per cent increase compared with 2024. This rise is believed to be partly driven by increased awareness and confidence in reporting, but it also highlights the ongoing scale and impact of a crime that often unfolds over weeks or months.
Overall losses equate to almost £280,000 every day, with individual victims having an average of £9,500 stolen from them. In some cases, reported individual losses reached as high as £1 million.
Romance fraud typically involves sustained contact, with offenders carefully building trust and emotional attachment with the victim before creating a situation where the victim feels they should send them money, often using stories linked to emergencies, investment opportunities or plans to meet in person.
Temporary Detective Chief Inspector Georgia McCormack is Head of the Economic Crime Unit. She said:
“Perpetrators of romance fraud are extremely devious and incredibly convincing and manipulative. It’s a cruel form of fraud often leaving victims both financially devastated and heartbroken. They believed they had genuine emotional connection with this person and that belief and trust is shattered when they lean that they have lost their money.
“With elaborate stories, and persuasive tactics, we don’t underestimate how compelling these fraudsters can be. They often invest a great deal of time in gaining the trust of a victim. We know that people affected can feel embarrassed, but romance fraud is never the fault of the victim. It can happen to anyone, and by reporting it, victims help bring offenders to justice.”
Analysis shows people aged 55 to 74 suffered the greatest financial losses, accounting for almost half of the total amount stolen in the UK. Although men submitted a higher number of reports overall, women experienced greater financial losses, making up just over 40 per cent of the total value reported.
Romance fraud remains closely linked to online platforms, particularly social media and dating sites, where offenders can easily create convincing false profiles. AI‑generated images and messages to support fraudulent identities are increasingly being used. In many cases, romance fraud is linked with fake investment opportunities, including cryptocurrency, in hybrid frauds which further increase the financial risk to victims.
We are supporting the annual romance fraud campaign from the City of London Police and urging the public to remain cautious when forming relationships online and to be alert to warning signs:
- Individuals who develop relationships very quickly or express strong feelings early on
- Excuses not to meet in person or to avoid live video calls
- Wanting to send money, cryptocurrency or gift cards to someone you have not met face‑to‑face
- Talk of investments, medical emergencies or travel costs
- You feel you are unable to or don’t want to talk about the relationship with friends or family
- The person you are communicating with doesn’t like it when you use ways to protect yourself from fraud
Make sure you:
- Speak to a trusted friend or family member if you want to send money
- Reverse-image search profile and other photos you are sent
- Actively let the person know you are fraud aware and will be protecting yourself (if they don’t like it, this is a key warning sign)
- If you want to move money, listen to your bank and follow their advice to stop if they tell you they are concerned.
Anyone who believes they may have been targeted is encouraged to report it to Report Fraud at www.reportfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040. If money has already been transferred, they should contact their bank immediately.
Visit Stop! Think Fraud for more information on types of fraud and ways to protect yourself from them. visit https://stopthinkfraud.campaign.gov.uk/
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