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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Business
Vicky Shaw

How can you tell someone is a romance scammer? The messages and signs to look out for

A UK bank has recorded a 24 per cent increase in romance scam reports over the past year.

Comparing cases from 1 September 2025 to 31 August 2026 with the previous 12 months, Lloyds Banking Group found that while younger adults saw the largest rise in reported incidents, older victims lost greater sums.

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