Romance scams cost Devon & Cornwall millions

Men targeted most, women lose more

Just over £3 million has been lost in romance fraud across Devon and Cornwall. 

New figures show those between 55 and 74 were heavily targeted in the last year, with more than half a million pounds taken from victims across the UK every day.

Overall, men are being targeted more than women. However, women tend to suffer higher individual financial losses.
Police are reminding people to be careful, especially as scammers are using AI to generate profiles and make their relationships seem more genuine. 

Criminals are now in a position where they can easily create convincing fake profiles and use new technology to make fraudulent identities appear more realistic.

In many cases, romance fraud is combined with fake investment schemes, including cryptocurrency, increasing the financial risk to victims 

Some of the early warning signs are:
- If a profile or their photos look too good to be true
- They're very quick to express love or deep feelings within days, which is known as love bombing
- Claims to be overseas, often working abroad on oil rigs, in the military, or in the shipping industry, and has minimal or inconsistent personal details
- Gives vague answers, avoids specifics, or stories that don't quite add up
- Requests start small and then end up much larger, with payments going up every time

The golden rule is: never send money, cryptocurrency, or gift cards to someone you haven't met face to face.

If you think you've been a victim of romance fraud, or want to report anything regarding the matter, click here or phone 1 0300 123 2040