What is Romance Fraud

Romance Fraudsters and Their Devastating Impact

Romance fraudsters, also known as romance scammers, are individuals who exploit the emotions and trust of unsuspecting victims by creating fictitious romantic relationships.

We tend to think of them mainly operating on dating websites and social media platforms where they carefully construct fake identities to lure their targets. But we mustn’t forget that romance fraudsters can exist in the real world too, not just online – The primary aim of these fraudsters is financial gain, but the consequences of their actions extend far beyond monetary loss, inflicting deep emotional and psychological scars on their victims. 

The Modus Operandi of a Romance Fraudster

A romance fraudster typically begins by creating a compelling online profile, complete with attractive photos and a captivating backstory. They may claim to be a successful professional, often in a field that requires extensive travel or prolonged periods away from home, such as the military, engineering, or international business. This provides a convenient excuse for why they cannot meet in person.

Once contact is established, the fraudster invests significant time and effort into building a relationship with their victim. They express genuine interest, shower their target with compliments, and share fabricated personal stories to foster a sense of intimacy and trust. Over time, the fraudster’s messages become more frequent and affectionate, creating the illusion of a deep, emotional connection.

After securing the victim’s trust, the fraudster introduces a crisis scenario that necessitates financial assistance or an amazing financial opportunity. This could be an emergency medical expense, a business deal gone wrong, a travel-related mishap or an investment opportunity with amazing growth. In the case of the crisis scenarios, the fraudster pleads for help, often promising to repay the money once the crisis is resolved. Desperate to help their beloved, the victim complies, unaware that they are being deceived.

The Emotional and Financial Toll on Victims

The impact of romance fraud on victims is profound and multifaceted; financially, victims may lose substantial amounts of money, sometimes their entire life savings. The deception can continue for months or even years, with fraudsters continually inventing new crises to extract more funds. Often, when finally exposed, the fraudster will tell their victims they will return the money, but there is a ‘fee’ or cost to release it, for example asking for a further £500 or so – which, of course, is another lie and neither the original money or the ‘fee’ is ever seen again.

This financial devastation can lead to long-term economic hardship, affecting victims’ ability to pay bills, support their families, or save for the future.

Emotionally, the betrayal is extremely damaging, victims often experience a range of negative emotions, including shock, anger, shame, and grief. The realisation that their romantic relationship was a sham can shatter their self-esteem and trust in others. Many victims feel humiliated and blame themselves for being deceived, leading to feelings of isolation and depression.

The psychological impact can also be severe. Victims may develop anxiety disorders, suffer from post-traumatic stress, or become wary of forming new relationships. The emotional trauma can be particularly intense for those who invested significant time and emotion into the relationship, only to discover that it was all a lie.

Organised Crime

We do tend to think of a romance fraudster working alone. Whilst this is true in many cases, there are also large criminal gangs running romance fraud and investment scams as a full-time business, with hundreds of people working for them carrying out the fraud – these workers themselves are often victims of human trafficking, being forced through fear, and other restrictions, to work for the criminals. One such group in Dubai was recently exposed by Tech Support Scam specialist, Jim Browning, I strongly recommend watching his YouTube video here in which he exposes a gang who have four eight-story buildings full of workers carrying out the scams, and they even have a female model on staff who would participate in live video chats with victims, to make the deception even more believable.

The Wider Social Consequences

The ripple effects of romance fraud extend beyond individual victims. Families and friends of victims often bear witness to their loved one’s suffering and may become involved in attempts to recover lost funds or provide emotional support. This can strain relationships and create additional stress for those trying to help.

Preventive Measures and Support for Victims

Preventing romance fraud requires vigilance and awareness. Individuals should be cautious about sharing personal information online and sceptical of requests for money from people they have not met in person. Educating the public about the tactics used by romance fraudsters can help potential victims recognise warning signs early and avoid falling prey to scams.

For those who have already been victimised, support is crucial. Counselling and support groups can provide a safe space for victims to share their experiences and begin the healing process. Legal and financial advice can also help victims navigate the aftermath of the fraud and rebuild their lives.

In conclusion, romance fraudsters are master manipulators who exploit the vulnerabilities of their victims for financial gain. The impact on victims is devastating, encompassing financial loss, emotional trauma, and psychological distress. Awareness, education, and support are essential in combating this insidious form of fraud and helping victims recover from its damaging effects.

If you suspect that you may be the target of, or victim of a fraudster, we have several articles on this site in the How To section that show you how you can check their profiles out and make a well-informed decision.

If you believe that you may have sent money to a fraudster, you should report it to the authorities using the links below and read our seperate article on the steps you can take to see if you can get any of your money back, here


Always Report Fraudsters to the Authorities

Why should you always report fraudsters to the authorities? Firstly, it could help protect other people from falling victim to these criminals if they are caught or deterred from doing it again and secondly, because there could be a chance that all or some of the money you have sent the fraudsters could be recovered in the future. The country where you live will have their own law enforcement or authority to report the fraudsters to, here are the main ones for the UK and the USA;

In the UK: Action Fraud https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/reporting-fraud-and-cyber-crime

In the USA: The FBI at https://www.ic3.gov or the FTC at https://reportfraud.ftc.gov