Woman Targeted in Romance Scam; Fraud Reports Show Significant Increase

A 72-year-old woman became the target of a romance scammer who sought to deceive her into transferring funds. Identified as Sue from Staffordshire, who requested anonymity regarding her full name, she was deceived by an individual impersonating a widower soon after the death of her husband of 40 years. Her experience exemplifies a common dating scam, a type of fraud contributing to an 11% increase in reports submitted to Action Fraud. This information stems from a BBC Freedom of Information request, submitted as part of “Scam Safe,” a week-long series of programs designed to educate the public on scam prevention. Sue became a target after joining an online dating group several years following the death of her husband, Don, an event she described as “devastated” her. She stated, “Don was the best thing that ever happened to me.” Soon after joining the group, Sue began receiving communications from an individual identifying himself as John. John informed Sue that he had been a widower for six years and was presently located in Dubai. Sue recounted, “He said that he was a civil engineer and he was 71.” She added, “He looked quite decent.” Within a few days of initiating contact, Sue stated that John expressed his love for her. Individuals impacted by fraud can find support via the BBC’s Action Line. She now believes she was a victim of a dating scam, a fraud category that has experienced one of the most significant rises in reported incidents since 2019. This category encompasses situations where a prospective victim is befriended online and then emotionally coerced into transferring money to someone they perceive as a romantic partner. During the initial six months of 2024, Action Fraud recorded 4,109 reports of dating scam fraud, marking a 56% increase compared to the corresponding six-month period in 2019. Law enforcement officials recommend that any scam victim report the incident promptly to both Action Fraud and their financial institution. Sue recounted that during the first week, John “used to message me every day.” She continued, “The second week, it went quiet for two days and then he popped back up and said that he’d been mugged and he’d been shot in the leg. He’d been taken to hospital.” Sue verified the hospital’s name online, confirming its existence. She stated, “He contacted me from his hospital bed and said that he hadn’t eaten for two days.” She added, “He said, could I send him £100 in gift cards so that he could get something to eat.” She informed him that she was unwilling to send any funds. “He then also said he couldn’t pay his hospital bills and I just said I’m sorry I can’t,” she reported. Developing suspicions, she reached out to BBC Morning Live. Detective Inspector Kerry Skingle of Staffordshire Police issued a warning, stating that fraudsters frequently target vulnerable individuals online, aiming to establish friendships with the goal of financial exploitation. She explained, “They go to great lengths to gain their trust and convince them that they are in a genuine relationship, with the ultimate aim of defrauding them out of their hard-earned money.” A collaborative investigation conducted by the BBC’s Morning Live and England Data Unit, utilizing Freedom of Information requests submitted to the City of London police, revealed that Action Fraud recorded 190,030 fraud reports during the first six months of 2024. This figure represents an 11% increase compared to the identical period in 2023, with the surge predominantly attributed to a rise in reports concerning hacking, dating scams, and online shopping and auction fraud. Action Fraud serves as the national reporting hub for fraud and cybercrime across England and Wales. While other agencies, including Police Scotland, lack a formal affiliation with Action Fraud, they do submit certain cases. Action Fraud’s data depends on victims’ self-reporting, suggesting that the true incidence of fraud could be greater. Hacking via social media and email constituted the category experiencing the most substantial increase in the first six months of the year, with 16,367 reported incidents, an 89% rise from the corresponding period in 2023. Hacking led to the scamming of 46-year-old Alex Carlton upon her return from vacation. During her travels, she “clicked on something that looked very much like the normal Sydney Airport wi-fi.” The prompt requested her destination. After entering London, she proceeded with several activities, including “a bit of online banking.” Upon her arrival in London, she discovered a charge from “a restaurant in Sydney that I have never been to.” She stated, “I was charged while I was flying somewhere over Turkey.” She did not report the event to the police because her bank promptly froze her card. However, she now exercises greater caution regarding the Wi-Fi networks she uses. She commented, “They do look very, very similar to the real one.” She added, “It can be very difficult sometimes to tell.” Action Fraud reported that £1.4 million was lost last year due to this form of fraud. Detective Inspector Skingle recommended that individuals should never provide money or personal information, such as an address or banking details, to someone they have not encountered face-to-face. She urged, “I encourage anyone that has been a victim of a romance scam or fraud to report it as soon as possible, so the necessary action can be taken.” Action Fraud additionally suggested that individuals can safeguard themselves against hacking by implementing two-step verification and employing robust, distinct passwords for their social media and email accounts. Further guidance on fraud protection is available within the BBC’s “Scam Safe” week resources. Additional reporting was provided by George Sandeman and Grace Dean. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external websites. Information regarding their approach to external linking is available.