Experts send Valentine’s Day warning as dating scam reports rise by 20% in Lincolnshire

More than 400 romance fraud reports across South Yorkshire as UK losses top £100m

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, residents across Lincolnshire are being urged to stay alert following a sharp rise in romance fraud cases. New data reveals reports in the county have increased by 20% since 2022.

Figures obtained by Romance Scams Advice through Freedom of Information requests show romance fraud has escalated rapidly across the UK in recent years, with cynical fraudsters stealing more than £100 million from victims nationwide.

During the 2024/25 financial year alone, police forces across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland logged a total of 9,449 romance scam reports.

Against this backdrop, cases reported to Lincolnshire Police rose from 116 in 2022/23 to 139 in 2024/25. Across the three-year period, a total of 406 incidents were logged by the force.

This equates to an overall increase of 19.83%, as fraudsters continue to exploit dating apps, social media platforms and messaging services to deceive the Lincolnshire public.

Stuart Lythgoe, a fraud recovery specialist at Romance Scams Advice, said: “These shocking figures underline the growing importance of tackling romance fraud. Scammers prey on the trust of vulnerable people, and with huge sums of money often at stake, the results can be psychologically damaging as well as financially harmful.”

Local rise reflects wider national pattern

The increase seen in Lincolnshire is part of a broader national trend, with romance fraud reports across the UK rising by an average of 37.67% over the same three-year period.

The Metropolitan Police recorded the highest number of cases overall, with Greater London seeing reports climb from 1,140 in 2022/23 to 1,230 in 2024/25, totalling 3,491 incidents.

West Midlands Police also reported high volumes, logging 1,021 cases, while Thames Valley Police recorded 945 reports over the three years.

Nottinghamshire experienced the most dramatic rise nationally, with reports surging by an astonishing 152% – from 101 cases in 2022/23 to 255 in 2024/25.

Other notable increases were recorded by Warwickshire Police, which saw an 80% rise despite being one of the smallest forces in the country, and Devon and Cornwall Police, where cases jumped by 56% over the three-year period.

Areas reporting fewer cases

While most regions saw growth, a small number of police forces recorded a decline. Northamptonshire experienced the largest reduction, with reports falling by 40% – from 201 cases to 119 – over the three years.

Gloucestershire also saw a significant decrease of around 30%, with cases dropping from 165 to 115.

The lowest overall numbers were recorded in the Crown Dependencies of Guernsey, Jersey and the Isle of Man, which together reported just 32 cases between 2022/23 and 2024/25.

Other relatively safe areas – indicated by comparatively low totals – included those covered by Cleveland Police (157 cases), Cumbria Police (170), and Gwent Police in Wales (194).

Financial losses exceed £100 million

The financial impact of romance fraud continues to grow. In 2022/23, reported losses across the UK totalled £92.8m, but that figure rose to £106m in 2024/25 – an increase of more than 14%.

The number of reports followed a similar upward trend, increasing from 8,036 to 9,449 during the same period – the equivalent of roughly 13 additional cases every week.

Experts warn the true scale of romance fraud is likely far higher, as many victims choose not to report incidents due to embarrassment or distress, or even because they are unaware they have been scammed. An accurate figure would most likely be much higher.

Increase in male victims

Although romance fraud is often thought to affect women more frequently, reports involving male victims rose by 7.5% over the three years – from 3,984 cases in 2022/23 to 4,296 in 2024/25.

Reports involving female victims remained relatively stable at around 3,500 per year. However, cases where the victim’s gender was not recorded rose sharply, increasing from 494 to 1,616 – a jump of more than 300%.

Age and wisdom are no barrier to romance scams

Contrary to common wisdom, younger and more digitally confident age groups are among those most commonly targeted – Gen X and Gen Z accounted for the largest proportion of reported cases over the three-year period.

People aged 40–59 made up the largest group of victims at 31.29%, followed by those aged 20–29 at just over 17%.

Those aged 30–39 accounted for 14.49% of reports, while individuals aged 70 and over represented 11.3%, underlining that romance fraudsters can fool people of all ages and backgrounds.

Vigilance needed to beat ‘devious’ scammers, says expert

Warning of the need to stay vigilant, Stuart Lythgoe of Romance Scams Advice added: “It can be a complex crime, with financial services facing many challenges in eliminating risk, so it’s important that we all remain vigilant to avoid being deceived by these skilled and devious manipulators.

“People should always be wary when sending money, particularly to anyone asking for money who they have never met, as the risk of fraud is increased dramatically.

“While tighter controls are needed to identify red flags and prevent romance fraud, seeking to recover your lost money is also an important step in ensuring accountability for the perpetrators while ensuring justice for affected individuals.”