Thames Valley Police warn about the dangers of online dating
Do you know who you're talking to online?
Last updated 14th Feb 2021
If you're looking for love online this Valentines Day, Thames Valley Police is warning people aren't always looking for romance.
Officer's have released advice on romance fraud, so people don't get tricked into a fake relationship.
Criminals are experts at impersonation, creating fake profiles and scamming people.
Always research the person your are talking to and avoid sending money to someone you've never met in person.
Most online platforms have a reporting tool you can use if you suspect someone is using pictures that don’t belong to them. Reporting their profile means it can be blocked to protect others.
What is a romance fraud?
Romance frauds happen when the victim thinks they’ve met the perfect partner through an online dating website or app, but the other person is using a fake profile to form a relationship with them. They’re using the site to gain the victim’s trust and ask them for money or enough personal information to steal their identity.
How does it happen?
Romance fraudsters are masters of manipulation and will go to great lengths to create a false reality in which an individual feels that they are making reasonable and rational decisions.
The challenge for many family and friends of romance fraud victims is being able to disrupt the false reality created to enable the victim to see the situation for what it really is - a fraud.