SURREY’S Police and Crime Commissioner has urged residents to be wary of romance fraudsters this Valentine’s Day.
Lisa Townsend blasted the criminals behind “heart-breaking” scams, and warned that Surrey victims lose millions each year to fraud.
And she called for anyone who fears they may be affected to come forward and speak to Ndị uwe ojii Surrey.
Lisa said: “Romance fraud is a deeply personal and intrusive crime. The impact it has on its victims is heart-breaking.
“Scammers con their victims into investing time and money under the mistaken belief that they have a genuine personal connection.
“In many cases, it’s difficult for victims to end their ‘relationship’ as they’re so emotionally invested.
“This type of crime can leave people feeling extremely ashamed and embarrassed.
“To anyone who is suffering, please know they’re not alone. Criminals are clever and manipulative, and it is never the fault of someone who has been scammed.
“Surrey Police will always take reports of romance fraud incredibly seriously. I’d urge anyone affected to come forward.”
In total, 172 reports of romance fraud were made to Surrey Police in 2022. Just under 57 per cent of victims were female.
More than half of all victims live alone, and just over one in five were contacted initially via WhatsApp. Around 19 per cent were contacted through a dating app first.
The majority of victims – 47.67 per cent – were aged between 30 and 59. Around 30 per cent were aged between 60 and 74.
‘Never a victim’s fault’
While many people – 27.9 per cent of all victims – didn’t report any losses, 72.1 per cent were defrauded out of sums of money. Of that number, 2.9 per cent lost between £100,000 and £240,000, and one person lost more than £250,000.
In 35.1 per cent of all cases, criminals asked their victims to hand over money via a bank transfer.
Surrey Police has offered the following advice on spotting the signs of a romance fraudster:
- Kpachara anya maka ịnye ozi nkeonwe na webụsaịtị ma ọ bụ ụlọ nkata
- Ndị wayo ga-eme mkparịta ụka nkeonwe iji nweta ozi n'ime gị, mana ha agaghị agwa gị ọtụtụ ihe gbasara onwe ha na ị nwere ike ịlele ma ọ bụ nyochaa.
- Ndị wayo ịhụnanya na-ekwukarị na ha nwere ọrụ dị elu nke na-eme ka ha ghara ịnọ n'ụlọ ruo ogologo oge. Nke a nwere ike ịbụ ụzọ aghụghọ iji mee ka a na-enyo enyo maka ịghara izute onwe gị
- Ndị wayo na-anwakarị ịdọpụ gị ka ị ghara ịkparịta ụka na saịtị mkpakọrịta nwoke na nwanyị ziri ezi nke enwere ike nyochaa
- Ha nwere ike ịkọ akụkọ iji gbado mmetụta uche gị - dịka ọmụmaatụ, na ha nwere onye ikwu na-arịa ọrịa ma ọ bụ ndị tọrọ atọ ná mba ọzọ. Ha nwere ike ghara ịrịọ maka ego ozugbo, kama na-atụ anya na ị ga-enye onyinye site n'ịdị mma nke obi gị
- Mgbe ụfọdụ, onye wayo ga-ezitere gị ihe ndị bara uru dị ka laptọọpụ na ekwentị mkpanaaka tupu ị gwa gị ka iziga ha. O yikarịrị ka nke a bụ ụzọ ha ga-esi kpuchi ihe omume mpụ ọ bụla
- Ha nwekwara ike ịrịọ gị ka ị nabata ego n'ime akaụntụ ụlọ akụ gị wee bufee ya n'ebe ọzọ ma ọ bụ site na MoneyGram, Western Union, iTunes vouchers ma ọ bụ kaadị onyinye ndị ọzọ. Ihe ngosi ndị a nwere ike ịbụ ụdị nke mpụ ego, nke pụtara na ị ga-eme mpụ
Maka ozi ọzọ, gaa na surrey.police.uk/romancefraud
Iji kpọtụrụ ndị uwe ojii Surrey, kpọọ 101, jiri webụsaịtị ndị uwe ojii Surrey ma ọ bụ kpọtụrụ na ibe mgbasa ozi mmekọrịta nke Force. Kpọọ 999 mgbe ọ bụla na mberede.