Hertfordshire residents lose over £1m to romance scams
Over 100 victims have been identified by Police since April 2025
More than 100 people in Hertfordshire have lost money to romance scams since the beginning of 2025, according to police.
Victims reported combined losses of £1.14 million. In some cases, individuals in Watford and St Albans lost around £5,000 each, while another resident in Stevenage reported losing £4,000 after sending money to someone they had met online.
Police say fraudsters approach victims in different ways, often through dating apps or social media.
Offenders typically claim they need money for reasons such as medical bills or travel costs, and often present themselves as working in roles such as oil rig engineers, members of the US military, or aid workers abroad.
Detective Inspector Pete Hankins, from the Serious Fraud and Cyber Unit, said:
“When making contact with someone online, use the same caution as you would if you met someone on the street. If you are looking for potential romance it can be difficult to refuse a plea for help, but take some time to think if the person you have been talking to is being genuine. If you have never met someone in person, how can you be sure that are who they say they are?
“Some fraudsters can spend months or even years grooming potential victims and if you hand over money or gifts, they tend to carry on the scam taking as much as they can get until the victim realises, or they have nothing left to give.”
Police advice on avoiding romance fraud
Never send money: Any request for money from someone only known online should be treated with caution, including requests for vouchers, cryptocurrency or investments. Report any requests to the dating service immediately.
Check identities carefully: Take time to get to know the person and use tools such as Google image search or TinEye to check whether profile pictures are used elsewhere. Police also advise keeping personal information limited and social media accounts private.
Talk to others: Speaking to friends or family may provide useful perspective. Police warn to be wary if an online contact asks you to keep the relationship secret.
Anyone who suspects fraud or has already transferred money is advised to call 159 to speak to their bank. Further advice is available at www.actionfraud.police.uk and www.herts.police.uk/cyber-fraud