Action Fraud has warned that ‘Romance fraud’ is posing a small but consistent risk to Channel Island residents.
While the number of reported cases locally remains very small compared to regions in the UK, Action Fraud says the fact that anyone has been a victim here proves that these scams are a widespread issue that need to be taken seriously.
What is ‘Romance fraud’?
Action Fraud says romance scams involve people “being duped into sending money to criminals who go to great lengths to gain their trust and convince them that they are in a genuine relationship”.
The scammers will use language to manipulate, persuade and exploit victims so that when requests for money are made, it does not raise alarm bells.
These requests may be highly emotive, with the scammers potentially claiming they need money for emergency medical care, or to pay for transport costs to visit the victim if they are overseas.
Romance scammers will often build a relationship with their victims over time, winning their trust before attempting to defraud them.
The stats
Action Fraud received two reports from victims in Guernsey in 2019, four in both 2020 and 2021, and two each in 2023 and 2024.
In Jersey, Action Fraud received four reports in 2020, five annually from 2021 to 2023, and three in 2024.
The organisation said this highlights the consistent, if small, impact that this type of fraud has on the Channel Islands.
One of the past victims of romance fraud spoke out about the issue in 2019.
The victim said they had lost a substantial amount of money and their heart to the scammer.
Financially, Action Fraud believes that romance scams may have cost UK residents over £400 million over the past five years.
While no figure is available for the financial cost to local victims the City of London Police has previously estimated that on average romance fraud victims lose nearly £11,000.
Action Fraud says Greater London has the highest number of reported cases in the UK, with cases increasing across most UK police force areas, including in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
The victims
Although Valentine’s Day is often highlighted as a risky period for romance scams, Action Fraud data suggests that this type of fraud poses a year-round threat.
It also says that the scams affect all age groups and genders, with a concerning number of reports involving younger individuals, raising concerns about online child exploitation.
In a statement, Action Fraud said: “Where the victim’s gender was recorded, 17,956 (51%) identified themselves as female, and 17,032 (49%) identified as male.
“While a victim was more likely to be middle-aged, with 50-59 year-olds scammed on 7,393 occasions (followed by 40-49 year-olds, who reported 6,445 crimes), every age group was represented in the figures. This includes 73 victims aged between 90 and 99, and even one victim understood to be at least 100 years old. Shockingly, 53 victims were aged up to nine years old, and a further 1,472 were under the age of 20.
“It is another symptom of a growing epidemic of child exploitation online. The NSPCC reported in September that the need for counselling due to online grooming and ‘sextortion’ has grown significantly.”
Support available
Victim Support emphasises the significant emotional and psychological impact of these scams, beyond the financial losses.
They encourage victims to seek help, noting the shame and stigma often associated with such fraud.
“Romance fraud is a devastating crime,” said Lisa Mills, Senior Fraud Manager at Victim Support, UK.
“For victims, it isn’t just a question of losing large sums of money. The psychological and emotional impact of being deceived by someone you trusted deeply can knock your confidence and sense of self-worth enormously.
“Sadly, there is so much shame and stigma around romance fraud, with many victims too embarrassed to open up to their friends or family about what has happened, leaving them even more isolated.
“If you have been a victim, you are not to blame – fraudsters are skilled manipulators who use social engineering to manipulate thousands of people every year.”
Victims in Guernsey can contact Victim Support Guernsey online HERE or by calling 01481 223000.
Action Fraud offers support to victims too. It has announced a new service, Action Fraud Claims Advice, which aims to help victims try to recover lost funds.
Anyone affected can contact Action Fraud online through its website HERE.
Action Fraud is the UK’s national reporting centre for fraud and cybercrime – it also works with other organisations outside of the UK.
If you believe you are the victim of fraud, contact Guernsey Police on 725111 or 999 in an emergency.