Valentine's warning to Manchester's singles

Single people across Greater Manchester are being warned to be on their guard against so-called Romance Fraud.

Police say there's been an increase in the number of victims who've been lured into a relationship and fleeced.

One case is reported in the UK every three hours.

Detective Inspector Martin Hopkinson said:

“Romance Fraud is a particularly cruel crime, where victims are lulled into a false understanding of an online relationship. Commonly, the offender will create a sad story in order to gain the sympathy of their victim; they then proceed to ask for money to help their ‘desperate’ situation.

“The victims of these crimes are looking for genuine companionship or love, but instead find themselves taken advantage of and often left in financial difficulty.

“This campaign identifies the obvious signs to look out for if you think you or somebody you know could be a potential victim of this crime, as well as advice on what to do next.”