Romance fraud: UK victims lost £102 million in 2025 as AI tactics intensify

What is this scam?

New police figures released in May 2026 show UK victims lost £102 million to romance fraud in 2025, with almost half of total losses coming from those aged 55–74. Fraudsters build trust over weeks or months via dating apps and social media before requesting money for fabricated emergencies — medical bills, stuck-abroad situations, or failing businesses. AI-generated profile photos, voice messages, and video calls are increasingly used to create convincing fake identities, making these scams significantly harder to detect than earlier text-only variants.

Example scam message

Red flags to look out for

• The message creates urgency — threatening a fine, missed delivery, or account closure.
• Links lead to unofficial domains that don't match the real company's website.
• You weren't expecting this message and can't verify the event it references.
• It asks you to confirm payment details or personal information via a link.
• The sender's number or email address doesn't match the company's official contact.

What to do if you receive this

1. Do not transfer money — your bank will never ask you to move funds to a 'safe account'.
2. Hang up and call your bank directly on the number printed on the back of your card.
3. Report it to Action Fraud at actionfraud.police.uk.
4. If you've already transferred money, contact your bank immediately and ask about the APP fraud refund scheme.