As Valentine's Day approaches, Bromley Trading Standards is advising people to be particularly vigilant when looking for love online.
Bromley Trading Standards is highlighting romance scams where someone is seemingly in a relationship but is then asked for money. Often, the relationship has been established for some time precisely to gain a person's trust before the request for money is received.
There is usually a persuasive reason as to why this money is needed, when in reality the criminal has worked hard to gain the person's trust. Romance scams, as with all scams, are fraudulent and exploitative.
Spot the signs:
- You've been contacted online or met someone on a dating site and, whilst they express very strong emotions towards you, excuses are made about why they can't meet in person or video chat
- They want to move your conversations away from the original website or platform to private messages
- They don't tell you much about themselves
- You receive requests for money for urgent medical care, transport costs to visit you, a loan to help their business, and other reasons
- They tell you to keep this relationship secret from family and friends
Protect yourself:
- Stop and think – visit the Take Five website for advice on online fraud
- Keep your personal and financial information private – don't send copies of your identity documents or discuss your finances
- Protect your money and don't send or transfer money; don't take out a loan, send codes from gift cards like Amazon or iTunes, invest money on their advice, or allow them access to your devices
- Speak with someone you can trust first
Visit the Action Fraud website for more information on romance fraud.
Report and assistance
Contact your bank if you have given your financial details – call 159.
Contact Citizens Advice for help and advice on 0808 223 1133 or on the Citizens Advice website.
If you have given your details or lost money, report the scam to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or on the Action Fraud website.
It wasn't your fault – Thames Valley Police provides a practical support guide on romance fraud.
You can also visit the scams page on the council website for more information.
Bromley Trading Standards
To keep up with the latest scam alerts and warnings from Bromley Trading Standards sign up on www.bromley.gov.uk/TradingStandardsAlertSignUpForm.
Bromley Trading Standards also runs a fair-trader directory to help you find a safe, reliable trader that you can trust, visit www.bromley.gov.uk/tradingstandardschecked to learn more.