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Don't let romance fraud ruin your Valentines Day
February 1, 2021
Sky News
recently reported that romance fraud cost UK victims over £63m in 2020 according to figures obtained from Action Fraud.
Andy Knight, Head of Counter Fraud at SAFE, says that:
"Romance fraud involves a fraudster adopting a fake persona and striking up a friendship or romance with their victim in order to obtain money and/or gifts. This can happen either in person or via online dating websites when it's called catfishing."
The crime is a form of social engineering that often targets vulnerable individuals including the recently bereaved and those for whom another relationship has recently ended.
"We all share a lot of information about ourselves online nowadays and fraudsters use this information to research potential victims so it's worth thinking about what your posting on social media platforms or dating sites and apps" said Andy Knight.
As Valentines Day approaches we've put together a romance fraud prevention quick guide to help those of you looking for love to spot the romance fraudsters because it's better to be SAFE than sorry!
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When Sarah Whitaker approached an introductory care agency to find a carer for her 89 year old father she expected they would refer a suitably qualified and professional carer. Instead, Sarah was 'horrified' to discover that an unqualified imposter had been in her fathers home for almost three weeks! Unfortunately Sarah's story, reported by Sky News , is not as uncommon as one might expect. In January 2024, a man admitted impersonating a nurse and accessing resuscitation and children's areas at a hospital in Glasgow (BBC News) . SAFE has experience of dealing with a number of similar cases where an unqualified imposter had been found to be working in place of the qualified professional that was expected.
International Fraud Awareness Week (IFAW) 2024 takes place from 17-23 November, and SAFE continues to support this global effort to minimise the impact of fraud by promoting anti-fraud awareness and education. Fraud and cybercrime account for over 40% of all crime in England and Wales, affecting more people, more often, than any other crime. The social and economic cost to individuals is estimated to be in excess of £4.7 billion a year. So don’t wait until #fraudweek to become a fraud fighter!
According to data from Action Fraud, the national fraud and cybercrime reporting service, more than 33,000 people had their social media or email accounts hacked in the 12 months to August 2024, and victims lost a total of £1.4 million. Fraud is now the most commonly experienced crime in the UK, with 1 in 17 adults falling victim to fraudsters. The National Fraud Intelligence Bureau indicate that 80% of fraud is cyber-enabled. October is Cyber Security Awareness Month, an international initiative that aims to educate everyone about cyber safety. To mark the event, Action Fraud and NHS England have launched awareness campaigns to remind people that there are simple ways to protect themselves and our NHS from online threats.
