Valentine's Day campaign to raise awareness of romance fraud
Fraudsters are starting relationships with people online before asking for money.
Gwent Police is launching a new campaign to combat romance fraud as we mark Valentine's Day.
Fraudsters tend to contact their victims via social media or a dating app using a fake profile before building trust and eventually asking for money.
PC Jenni Cavill works at Gwent Police. She said: "This isn't something that you should be embarrassed about.
"It happens to people in all walks of life. There's no need to feel ashamed or to be alone - this happens to lots of different people.
"Their sole purpose is to get money from their victims so they'll develop an online relationship.
"They'll manipulate that person over a period of weeks, maybe months, all with that sole intention of getting money from that person."
She explained some of the tactics that are sometimes used by fraudsters to get victims to part with their money.
She said: "Invariably there will be a personal disaster - they can't get on to their personal banking, they can't get home from their place or work or wherever they are or even that they've been arrested and they need money for bail."
Gwent Police is asking anyone who may be a victim of romance fraud to get in touch.