The number of people falling victim to romance scams increased by more than 30% last year, according to new data from Lloyds Bank. Social media and dating apps have increasingly played into the hands of romance scammers in recent years, who can easily pretend to be someone else in their profile, using fake information and photos, the bank said.
The average amount lost by each victim was £8,234, slightly less than the previous year - £8,655. Romance scams often leave victims struggling with significant emotional trauma, Lloyds said. Not only do they have to deal with the financial impact, they also have to come to terms with the realisation that the relationship – which may have been cultivated over months or even years – is not real.
