Sucked in: Wiltshire victims conned out of thousands
Don't let your heart rule your head - beware of romance fraud in lockdown
On what's celebrated to be the most romantic day of the year, Valentine's Day, there's a warning for those who may be looking for love online.
Always exercise a little caution.
The last year's unquestionably caused an increase in loneliness for many, so it is particularly important to be reminded about the potential dangers of online dating as some people may be even more susceptible than normal.
Of course, the use of dating apps is a growing trend amongst singletons of all ages, making it easier than ever to meet new people, make friends, and potentially find love. Apps have moved with the times and added new functions such as voice and video call or photo and video sharing.
SUCKED IN
Sucked in by the dream of genuine romance, victims in Wiltshire have been conned out of huge sums of money.
On average they're duped out of £8,000, but some have lost an extortionate £180,000.
In 2020 alone, over £68 million was lost nationally to criminals who commit romance fraud. This can lead to utter devastation for those who have been affected.
Wiltshire Police Fraud Manager, Alison Wiles, has said:
"As people now spend a much larger amount of their time online, we've seen a rise in romance fraud over the last year - many people are experiencing loneliness in isolation and consider online sites as a good way to reach out for much craved human interaction. Suspects use this to their advantage, they're heartless and prey on the most vulnerable, but this is an easily preventable crime."
"A few simple background checks when you're first talking to someone will give you a good indication if who you're talking to is really who they say they are. If you think they're too good to be true, maybe they are."
"Talk to a close friend or family member to run the situation by them, they'll be a good reality check. Never disclose personal information or intimate images to someone who you've never met and keep conversations on the original platform. Certainly never transfer money to someone you made contact with through an online dating platform."
READ MORE
It's important to remember that the vast majority of profiles are genuine so don't be discouraged, friendship and romance are still out there. Be cautious though, and if you think you may have been a victim of romance fraud, sextortion or suspect someone you're talking to could be a fraudster, report it to Action Fraud here actionfraud or call Police on 101 for advice.
Action Fraud has some top tips on how to protect yourself from online romance fraudsters:
Don’t put yourself and your identity in jeopardy by trusting people too quickly – be cautious when getting to know people
Never send any money to people you've not met
Keep all communication via the internet dating site you’re using – avoid using personal email addresses
Report it immediately if you believe you’ve been a victim
When online dating, beware of particular behaviours and language a dating scammer might display/use:
The relationship with someone you’ve met online is solely via emails, text messages and phone calls and doesn’t seem to develop into meeting up
This person’s profile picture and the ones they send you make them look a supermodel
They ask you lots of questions about yourself but don’t tell you much about themselves
They quickly start calling you by a pet name or use endearing terms such as ‘darling’
They want to communicate with you through instant messaging and, texts, rather than through the dating website or chat room where you met
They don’t answer basic questions about where they live and work
They start asking you to send them money