Bromley Trading Standards are reminding readers of the sad reality that not everyone on dating sites are genuine, with advice on how to avoid falling victim to romance fraud.
The warning follows the latest Cyber Crime Summary by Metropolitan Police which reveals that, in January 2025 alone, Bromley residents reported losing nearly £1 million in total as a result of dating fraud.
The Met Police advise that dating online is now one of the most popular ways for new couples to meet, with millions of people finding new relationships, romance and love this way. Unfortunately, amongst the genuine profiles are fake profiles set up by fraudsters who are only after people's money, with no regard for love or companionship. These fraudsters are manipulative and sophisticated, playing with people's emotions to steal their money.
The Metropolitan Police has a video guide on their website which gives advice on how to avoid romance fraud (includes subtitles and sign language).
How does it happen?
Romance fraud involves a criminal building a relationship with you online and quickly asking to move communication off the dating website to other messaging platforms. This is to keep in contact with you, even if their profile is later identified as fraudulent and deleted.
Fraudsters are often very flattering, seeming really interested in you within a short space of time. However, they will use a range of excuses as to why they can't meet in person, such as they are stuck overseas, have a family emergency or an issue with their business.
The fraudster will then start asking for money to help with their problems, promising to pay it back as soon as they can. They may even claim to be desperate to meet you as soon as the issue is dealt with. This is all a scam and their true intention is to take as much money from you as they can.
How to protect yourself
Remember: Stay on the website! Never send money to someone you have not met in person or receive/transfer money on their behalf.
Caution: Be wary of continuing the relationship away from the dating website you initially made contact on.
Think: Why are they so quick to declare their love for me? How do I know they are telling me the truth?
- Keep all communication on the dating website you are using.
- Don’t be convinced by profile pictures, they may have been taken from somewhere else on the internet. You can check photos using a reverse image search on the internet through websites like www.tineye.com or www.reverse.photos.
- Do your own research on the person - are they members of any other social media sites? Can you confirm what they are telling you about themselves, such as where they work or where they live?
- Never send money to someone you have not met in person and be extremely wary of giving money to someone you have recently started a relationship with.
- Be wary of anyone asking you to receive money on their behalf and transfer it on - they may be using you to launder money.
Talk to family and friends for advice, even if the fraudster is asking you to keep the relationship secret.
Report and information
Call 159 to speak directly to your bank 159 - Stop Scams UK.
Report to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or on the Action Fraud website.
Contact Citizens Advice for help and advice on 0808 223 1133 or on the Citizens Advice website.
If you have been tricked into sending money by bank payment, check out the Toolkit and UK Finance Authorised Push Payment Fraud guidance for more information on recovering lost money.
The Which? News website has a practical support guide on romance fraud.
For general information about scams in various languages visit the Friends Against Scams website.
You can also visit Trading Standards on the Bromley 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.