Online Dating Scams
You sign up to an online dating service and meet someone who sounds like the perfect match. You send messages to each other for a while until the person asks for some kind of financial help.
Things the person might say before pleading for your money include:-
- "I want to come and meet you but can't afford the flight"
- "I have been robbed"
- "I need urgent medical treatment"
You pay up to help your new friend - but he or she disappears, along with your cash.
Protect yourself
- Never send money to someone you don't know, however plausible they sound.
- Only use a reputable online dating or chat service and follow their safety tips.
- Report any suspicions to the dating site.
Caught by this scam?
Report it online at Action Fraud or telephone 0300 123 2040.
