Victims lose £7m to romance fraud in one year

Victims of romance fraud were subject to losses of more than £7m last year in Surrey and Sussex, it has been revealed.

According to police, romance fraud is one of the highest reported frauds across the region – with more than 600 reports in 2024.

One victim sent a fraudster £100,000 in gift cards after being convinced they needed help funding hospital appointments, police said.

Bernadette Lawrie, financial abuse safeguarding officer, said: "Fraudsters manipulate and isolate their victims, often encouraging secrecy from family members, which can result in a breakdown of their support network and relationships."

"The impact is far more than purely financial."

Romance fraud is a scam where an individual pretends to be seeking a genuine loving relationship and instead uses the vulnerable connection to exploit the other person for money.

The Sussex-based victim who sent £100,000 of gift cards met the scammer through a Facebook group for dog lovers.

After establishing a relationship, the scammer claimed that his daughter was in a coma, he also had poor health and that his bank account had been frozen.

The victim sent over Apple iTunes gift vouchers and sums of money, Sussex Police said.

As a result, the victim ended up taking out a £32,000 mortgage on her home and a £12,000 bank loan.

Fraudsters typically make approached via dating sites or social media platforms, Surrey Police said.

The force said the public should not send money, provide copies of personal documents, agree to receive or send parcels or purchase gift cards for someone they do not trust and have not met in person.

Local reports showed that those over the age of 50 were the most likely to be targeted, and that there as a relatively even split between male and female victims, the force added.

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