Romance fraud warning from West Mercia Police on Valentine's Day
The force is reminding people to take extra care and be alert to it
West Mercia Police is joining calls this Valentine's Day to make people aware of the threat of romance fraud and the impact it can have.
It's estimated more than £106m was lost to romance fraud in the UK in the 2024/25 financial year.
There was a 9% increase in romance fraud reports during that period, according to data from the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB), with 9,449 reports being made meaning on average victims lost £11,222 each.
Cyber and fraud protection officer from West Mercia Police's cyber crime unit Rebecca Smith is reminding those across the region to take extra care in a bid to stay safe from it.
"Romance fraud is a particularly cruel scam that exploits our emotions and our willingness to trust the intentions of other people," she said.
"It's more than just cash victims lose, the trust, the emotional investment and the self-esteem these fraudsters destroy can take years to rebuild, victims are often left feeling isolated and embarrassed.
"As with keeping yourself online, anything to do with romance fraud knowledge is power, stop and think about what is being said and what is being asked of you, be wary of sending personal details or money to anyone you have not met in person."
Further information can be found over on West Mercia Police's website.