Police are warning residents in North Yorkshire to be on their guard against ‘romance fraud’, which saw victims in the county lose almost half a million pounds in the last year.
North Yorkshire Police said it received almost 70 reports of romance fraud in the year to August 2020, with victims losing more than £426,000 in total.
It is part of a national rise in the crime, with Action Fraud saying there had been a 26% increase in reports of romance fraud in the last 12 months.
North Yorkshire Police financial abuse safeguarding officer Andy Fox said:
“Romance fraud is where someone creates a fake online profile and after gaining the trust of an individual, uses their relationship to request sums of money. Fake profiles will often feature photos taken from other people online and may pose as a US army officer or businessman based overseas.
“Monetary sums will be requested to pay for urgent medical care or even plane tickets to visit the UK, usually alongside a story designed to elicit sympathy and on the promise of it being repaid.”
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Although cases often begin on dating websites, there have also been instances where fraudsters have used gambling sites to make contact with people who could become victims.
Andy said:
“The individuals who undertake romance fraud are highly skilled in both earning trust and cultivating what feels like a loving relationship so the impact on victims can be huge – financially and emotionally. We’re urging anyone using online dating to be vigilant to the signs and also to look out for friends and family, helping safeguard them from becoming victims.
“There can be a perception that the people who fall victim to romance fraudsters are of a certain age or gender but the reports we receive show that literally anyone can be taken in by these calculating criminals. We’ve seen both men and women targeted with some as young as teenagers right up to those in their eighties.”
Police warned anyone who meets someone online to be careful before trusting them. In particular, they said fraudsters might:
- use photos taken from the internet for their profiles, and refuse to meet in person or have a video call
- refuse to speak on the phone
- ask for money, often beginning with a small amount and increasing over time.
Anyone who thinks they may have become a victim to romance fraud should immediately stop all contact with the person and report them to North Yorkshire Police or Action Fraud. Andy added:
“We know that romance fraud is underreported for a number of reasons but one can be that victims feel embarrassed they have been taken in by these fraudsters. There is absolutely no reason to feel embarrassed and the police are here to support you.
“Not only can we give you advice and guidance to ensure you don’t become a victim again. All of these reports help us to build a profile of how romance fraud is undertaken so we can try to stop it happening to others in future.”
