Action Fraud is warning people to stay vigilant as romance scams pick up pace as Valentine’s Day approaches. The National Fraud and Cyber Crime Reporting Centre has issued the alert to potential victims as well as concerned friends and family.
Fraudsters behind romance scams dupe victims into sending them money, going to great lengths to convince victims that they are in a real relationship. These criminals will use language to manipulate, persuade and exploit so that any requests for money do not raise the alarm.
Scammers will usually appeal for financial help from a victim for things like emergency medical costs, transport costs in order to visit the victim or funds to pay for embassy visits or a new passport. Now, with Valentine’s Day on the horizon, Action Fraud is advising people to watch out for the signs that a family member or a friend could potentially be being duped.
