World Romance Scams Prevention Day

World Romance Scams Prevention Day

Today is World Romance Scams Prevention Day, and the Police Service of Northern Ireland would like to highlight this type of fraud and urge the public to be alert to criminals who exploit trust, emotion and online relationships to steal money.

Romance scammers are skilled manipulators. Many people use social media and dating sites to find love and meet new people and, while in many cases, situations are safe and legitimate, there are, unfortunately, criminals who take advantage of this and go to great lengths to build a fake relationship. Their sole aim is stealing people's money.

Fraudsters seek to build a relationship of trust quickly before requesting money. Initially, they'll appear charming and come across as being really interested in you, but they'll have multiple excuses for not being able to meet face-to-face. They'll hint at financial troubles and start asking for money by playing on victim’s emotions. For example, asking for help to pay for medical or legal bills, help a family member, pay for travel, or some sort of investment opportunity. They'll promise to repay the money but have no intention of doing so. For some people who believe they've found a genuine, meaningful relationship, the stark reality is they've been emotionally and financially drained. Even if any money lost is recovered, the person is still left to cope with the emotional impact and distress. 

In 2025, Northern Ireland had 61 reports of dating scams, with reported losses of £814,400. Behind each report is a person who may have experienced financial loss, distress and a serious breach of trust.

Fraudsters don't care about gender, sexuality, age or race. They target everyone. It is a despicable type of crime which, we believe, is under reported because people feel embarrassed. We hope by raising awareness of this type of fraud, people will know the signs to look out for and feel empowered to stop fraudsters taking their money. We also encourage anyone who has lost money in this type of fraud to report it. Do not feel ashamed - you are not at fault.  You are not alone - help and support is available.

We encourage everyone using dating apps and social media to be cautious. Never send money or share your bank details with someone you have only met online, however genuine their story may appear. If something does not feel right, stop contact, speak to someone you trust and report it.

If you have lost money in this way, report it to your bank immediately. Report to Police online at https://www.psni.police.uk/report or call 101, or Report Fraud online or call 0300 123 2040.