West Mercia Police warns of romance fraud ahead of Valentine's Day
Romance fraud occurs when fraudsters aim to create a fake relationship or friendship and use it for their own financial gain
West Mercia Police are urging people to stay alert to the threat of romance scams ahead of Valentine's Day.
Romance fraud happens where fraudsters aim to create a fake relationship or friendship with someone then use them for their own financial gain.
Rebecca Smith from West Mercia's cyber crime unit says it's important people be careful, especially online, and realise how these scams can work.
"Over the years we've seen an increase in romance fraud," she said.
"The age groups change year on year on as to which age groups are being targeted, each time the method to how they are doing it changing slightly.
During Covid the targeted age group was 20-30s, but a lot of people also see this and they think of older women who fall victim to it, but it can be anybody that's targeted with these ones."
West Mercia Police say some warning signs could be the fraudster making conversations more personal to get information and steering you away to encrypted messaging applications if you've met over a dating app.
"It's one of the frauds that go on for such a long time because it isn't going to happen over one phone call, or a week of phone calls or months, some of these can go on for years," Rebecca admitted.
"These fraudsters will take everything from these people, they will take your your house away from underneath you with all the money that they're trying to get from you, and then they'll come back and see if you've got anything left.
"The biggest thing that we say to people is don't part with your money, don't give out your banking information, if anything like this is happening to someone they could speak to a trusted friend, contact action fraud, and if they're in immediate danger, contact 999."
People can check online for further advice over on the police force's website.