‘Romance fraudsters’ cost victims in York and North Yorkshire more than £2.5million last year, according to new figures.
North Yorkshire Police yesterday (Thursday) revealed the devastating cost of romance fraud, with 115 reports in the North Yorkshire area within the 2024/45 financial year.
A total loss to victims amounted to £2,746,939. The figures compare to a total of 9,449 reports nationwide, and a total national loss of more than £100m over the same period.
The national statistics reveal that male victims slightly outnumber female victims, challenging the misconception that romance fraud primarily targets elderly women.
However, while more men reported cases, female victims tended to lose larger sums of money.
This is likely due to the prolonged engagement with fraudsters, who manipulate emotions over extended periods.
The 50-59 age group experienced the highest financial losses. This demographic is particularly vulnerable as they often have greater financial resources, are still in the workforce, and may be experiencing personal life changes such as divorce, separation, or the loss of a partner, making them prime targets for fraudsters.
Romance fraud isn’t just a financial crime, it can have a severe psychological impact on its victims.
Despite this, stigma still surrounds romance fraud victims, often driven by misconceptions that they are foolish or lack judgment.
In reality, criminals use sophisticated tactics to manipulate emotions and gain trust, making anyone vulnerable.
A North Yorkshire Police spokesperson said:
“If something doesn’t feel right in an online relationship, take a step back, verify identities, and seek advice. Speaking up can not only protect yourself, but also help prevent others from falling victim and bring those responsible to justice.
“Romance fraud isn’t just about losing money – it’s about emotional betrayal, psychological harm, and the erosion of trust. So we need you to question suspicious relationships, and protect both your heart and your bank account.”
The force also offered advice on how to stay safe from romance fraudsters:
- If you have met someone via a dating app, stay within the messaging function of the application. Don’t feel pressured to hand over your mobile number and move the conversation over to SMS or a messaging platform like WhatsApp or Telegram.
- Be suspicious of any requests for money from someone you have never met in person.
- Be cautious about how much personal information you are sharing online and who you are sharing information with.
- Speak to your family or friends to get advice and perspective. Fraudsters will subtly isolate you for their own purposes.
- Profile photos may not be genuine. Performing a reverse image search can find photos that have been taken from somewhere, or someone, else.
No matter how long you’ve been speaking to someone online and how much you think you trust them, if you have not met them in person, it’s important that you do not:
- send them any money, even in the form of gift cards
- allow them access to your bank account
- transfer money on their behalf
- take a loan out for them
- provide copies of your personal documents, such as passports or driving licenses
- invest your own money on their behalf or on their advice
- purchase and send the codes on gift cards
- agree to receive and/or send parcels on their behalf (laptops, mobile phones etc.)
