Protecting yourself from romance fraud – 8 tips from a former fraudster

A retired Detective Chief Superintendent from the Metropolitan Police Service, on behalf of the Police Crime Prevention Initiatives (CPI), spoke to a former fraudster, to help identify red flags that the general public should look out for. 
 
A series of blogs and guides from this reformed fraudster is being published on the Police CPI website. Parts of a blog about protecting yourself from romance fraud can be read below:

All you need is love...

Romance fraud is one of the most evil types of fraud. It targets those who are often emotionally damaged through bereavement or divorce and exploits their need to be wanted and loved.

Where most types of fraud are largely impersonal without any real or lengthy interaction with the victim, this deception is the complete opposite as it relies upon creating and developing a close personal relationship over weeks or months. The victim is encouraged to bare their innermost hopes and fears, and in doing so places a huge amount of trust in the person they truly believe is their soul mate - rather than someone attempting to scam them out of their life savings.

As a former fraudster myself, it seems disingenuous to single out romance fraudsters as any more evil than other types of scammer; however, there is something about their methodology that seems to attract a certain type of fraudster who is able to turn sociopathic tendencies on/off.
 
I also take the view that this type of fraud has a much more lengthy and profound effect than any other type. The purpose of all fraud is to dupe the victim into giving money to the fraudster and clearly this is no different. Whilst the majority of all victims also suffer some form of emotional trauma (which in the main they eventually get over by putting the whole thing down to experience) the victims of romance fraud suffer much more. Not only can it prevent them from looking for love again, it can also even deter them from making friends with anyone at all. Even I consider that a step too far!
 
Tips to avoid falling victim to scams

1. If you have been chatting to the other person via the messaging system on a dating app, continue to use it for as long as possible. Fraudsters will try to persuade you to move to email/text/WhatsApp as they do not want to risk being monitored.
2. If the other person has provided their mobile number and claims to be in the UK, hide your Caller ID (in ‘settings’ on your smartphone) so your number doesn’t appear. Ring them, and if you hear a foreign ring tone you should be very suspicious.
3. Do a reverse image search on Google to see if the photograph on their dating profile has been published elsewhere on the Internet.
4. Ask to have a brief video call. Most people have smartphones these days and anyone who refuses or makes excuses as to why they can’t do this should raise your suspicions.
5. Do some research on other social media platforms - anyone who has no presence whatsoever is very unusual.
6. Be realistic. If the person you are chatting to looks like a supermodel, unless you are equally as attractive, they might be flattering you with a view to scamming you.
7. Ask a family member or trusted friend to objectively review the other person. Sometimes a fresh pair of eyes can be incredibly useful.
8. Refuse to send any money, irrespective of the alleged reason the person gives you. Even sending a small amount convinces them you are gullible and they will come back for much larger amounts.

if you have any information about those behind romance fraud scams, contact our charity 100% anonymously

 Read more on the Police CPI website


Read more on our site about protecting yourself from romance fraud