Romance fraud costs UK victims £102 million in a year as reports surge by nearly a third

Victims of romance fraud lost more than £102 million last year, as criminals continue to exploit online relationships to manipulate people into transferring money, new figures from the City of London Police reveal.

Data shows 10,784 reports of romance fraud were made to Report Fraud last year – a 29 per cent increase compared with 2024. Police believe this rise is partly driven by increased awareness and confidence in reporting, but it also highlights the ongoing scale and impact of a crime that often unfolds over weeks or months.

Overall losses equate to almost £280,000 every day, with individual victims losing an average of £9,500. In some cases, reported individual losses reached as high as £1 million.

Romance fraud typically involves sustained contact, with offenders carefully building trust and emotional attachment with the victim before requesting money, often using stories linked to emergencies, investment opportunities or plans to meet in person.

The Metropolitan Police Service area recorded the highest total of losses at £12.1 million. This was followed by Hampshire (£3.45 million), Essex (£3.2 million), Thames Valley (£3.18 million) and Devon and Cornwall (£3.1 million), reflecting the nationwide nature of this offending.

Detective Superintendent Oliver Little, from the Lead Force Operations Room at the City of London Police, said: “Romance fraud is particularly harmful because it targets trust and emotional connection. Offenders will often spend significant time building what appears to be a genuine relationship before attempting to exploit their victim financially.

“While the monetary losses can be substantial, the emotional impact is often just as damaging. This crime can affect anyone, and by reporting it, victims help us build intelligence, disrupt offenders and protect others from harm.”

Analysis shows people aged 55 to 74 suffered the greatest financial losses, accounting for almost half of the total amount stolen. Although men submitted a higher number of reports overall, women experienced greater financial losses, making up just over 40 per cent of the total value reported.

Romance fraud remains closely linked to online platforms, particularly social media and dating sites, where offenders can easily create convincing false profiles. Investigators are also seeing increased use of AI‑generated images and messages to support fraudulent identities. In many cases, romance fraud is linked with fake investment opportunities, including cryptocurrency, further increasing the financial risk to victims.