Police warning as £2.6m lost to romance fraud in West Midlands
332 cases were reported to West Midlands Police last year
More than £2.6 million was lost to romance fraud across the West Midlands last year.
New figures show 332 cases were reported to West Midlands Police in the 2024/25 financial year, with total losses reaching a £2,696,865.
Data from the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) reveals a disturbing 9% increase in romance fraud reports nationally in the past year. Victims lost £11,222 each on average.
West Midlands Police is supporting a City of London Police campaign to raise awareness and educate the public on how scammers manipulate emotions to steal money.
Khatija Nichols from the West Midlands Police's Economic Crime Unit said: “Romance fraud is a cruel and calculated crime that can happen to anyone.
"Criminals build trust and relationships to exploit victims, stealing money and personal information and leaving victims financially and emotionally devastated.
“Victims are often embarrassed and feel ashamed to confide in friends and family or report to Action Fraud for fear of ridicule. We urge victims to reach out and seek help to protect themselves and help prevent others from becoming victims.
“If someone you’ve met online avoids meeting in person, asks for financial help, or pushes for quick intimacy, these could be signs that they aren’t who they say they are.”
How romance scammers operate
Romance fraud is a calculated scam, designed to exploit trust and emotions for financial gain. Fraudsters create fake identities, often posing as doctors, soldiers, or business professionals.
They take time to build relationships, earning their victims’ trust until the moment they claim an emergency and ask for money.
Who is most at risk?
Data reveals that the 50-59 age group suffered the biggest losses, totalling £22,108,334. This demographic is often financially stable, in the workforce, and may be going through major life changes like divorce or the loss of a partner making them prime targets for scammers.
A key tactic used by fraudsters is ‘love bombing’ with overwhelming victims with affection, manipulation, and emotional control to create dependency. Intelligence suggests that female victims were nearly twice as likely to engage with fraudsters for a year or more, showing how hard it can be to accept the truth once trust has been built.