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 Polisy 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:
- Mitandrema amin'ny fanomezana fampahalalana manokana amin'ny tranokala na chatroom
- Ny mpisoloky dia hanao resaka manokana mba hahazoana vaovao avy aminao, fa tsy hilaza aminao firy momba ny tenany fa azonao jerena na hamarininao
- Matetika ireo mpisoloky tantaram-pitiavana no milaza fa manana andraikitra ambony izay manalavitra azy ireo mandritra ny fotoana maharitra. Mety ho tetika hanesorana ny ahiahy momba ny tsy fihaonany mivantana izany
- Matetika ny mpisoloky dia hanandrana hanalavitra anao tsy hiresaka amin'ny tranonkala mampiaraka ara-dalàna izay azo araha-maso
- Mety hilaza tantara izy ireo mba hikendry ny fihetseham-ponao - ohatra, hoe manana havana marary na tafahitsoka any ivelany. Mety tsy hangataka vola mivantana izy ireo, fa manantena fa hanolotra amin'ny hatsaram-pon'ny fonao ianao
- Indraindray, ny mpisoloky dia mandefa entana sarobidy aminao toy ny solosaina finday sy finday alohan'ny hangataka anao handefa izany. Azo inoana fa fomba iray hanafenana ny asan-jiolahy izany
- Mety hangataka anao koa izy ireo mba hanaiky vola ao amin'ny kaontinao amin'ny bankinao ary hamindra izany any an-kafa na amin'ny alalan'ny MoneyGram, Western Union, iTunes voucher na karatra fanomezana hafa. Ireo toe-javatra ireo dia tena mety ho endrika famotsiam-bola, midika izany fa hanao heloka bevava ianao
Raha mila fanazavana fanampiny, fitsidihana surrey.police.uk/romancefraud
Raha hifandray amin'ny Surrey Police, antsoy ny 101, ampiasao ny tranokalan'ny Surrey Police na mifandray amin'ny pejin'ny media sosialy an'ny Force. Antsoy foana ny 999 rehefa misy maika.