Chichester pensioner conned out of £2,000 after falling victim to romance fraud - 'I gave him everything I had'

The 78-year-old, who has chosen to remain anonymous, lost more than £2,000 when she fell in love with a man she met playing an online scrabble game.

In a statement released via Sussex Police ahead of Valentine’s Day, the victim said: "We found we had so much in common. We had both lost our spouses and a child. He said he was a 63-year-old American, and he was working on an overseas oil rig.

"It developed into a loving conversation over days. We exchanged photos and spoke on the phone and there was even talk of getting engaged."

Weeks into the relationship, the victim began sending the scammer money after he claimed his work tools had fallen into the sea after the oil rig was damaged.

In the months that followed she used all her savings to help him out of various difficulties.

"I gave him everything I had and started borrowing from my family,” she added.

Sussex Police said it was contacted by the victim’s daughter after the scammer asked for £10,000 so he could get to Southampton to visit her. She and her sister did a reverse online search on his photo and found it was linked to six other identities.

PC Bernadette Lawrie, financial abuse safeguarding officer for Sussex and Surrey Police said fraud is one of the 'fastest growing crime types' and want to make people 'aware of the impact this awful crime has'. to help prevent further cases.

She added: "Romance fraudsters prey on victim's hopes of finding a genuine and meaningful connection and then capitalise on it. Many of the cases reported to us happened during lockdown, when people have been feeling more lonely than usual, making these crimes particularly deplorable.

"We are taking action on romance fraud by raising awareness of what to watch out for. Through Operation Signature, our campaign to identify and support vulnerable fraud victims, we are providing help and support to victims and issuing prevention advice in local communities.

"Sadly, some people who become victims of romance fraud feel too embarrassed to report it to police or talk to friends or family. There is absolutely nothing to be ashamed about - please speak to us in confidence and we will do whatever we can to help."

Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner, Katy Bourne said this crime is 'not only deceiving', and can con residents out of hard-earned savings, but it is also 'incredibly cruel'.

She continued: "Organised criminals are acutely aware of how lonely and isolated people are at this time and a lockdown Valentine’s Day provides the perfect opportunity for fraudsters to prey on those who are seeking love and affection.

"That is why the services and specialist skills of our Fraud Caseworkers are so incredibly important. I’m really pleased with the work they are doing to successfully protect and support our most vulnerable victims of fraud.

"Please heed the advice being issued by Action Fraud and the police this Valentine’s Day. Be vigilant to the signs they tell you to look out for and protect your savings and, more importantly, your heart."

What is romance fraud?

This Valentine's Day, Sussex Police is raising awareness of the devastating impact romance fraud has on victims to help prevent further cases.

A spokesperson said: "Romance fraud is where scammers convince their victims they have met the perfect partner online - but they aren't who they say they are and may be using a fake profile to form relationships.

"Once they've gained the trust of their victims, fraudsters will typically tell them about an issue they are experiencing and need financial help with. They will exploit the victim's desire to form a loving relationship to financially profit."

Sussex Police said it received 286 reports of romance fraud in 2020, a 68 per cent increase from 2019. Over half of victims live alone and the average loss was £17,993. The vast majority of victims were contacted through social media and dating sites.

Protect yourself using 'DATES'

Police issued the following advice to avoid falling victim to romance fraud:

Don’t rush into an online relationship – get to know the person, not the profile and ask plenty of questions.

Analyse their profile – confirm their identity. Check the person is genuine by putting their name, profile pictures or any repeatedly used phrases and the term ‘dating scam’ into your search engine.

Talk to your friends and family - be wary of anyone who tells you not to tell others about them.

Evade scammers - never send money or share your bank details with, someone you’ve only met online, no matter what reason they give or how long you've been speaking to them.

Stay on the dating site messenger service - until you’re confident the person is who they say they are.

Report romance fraud can be reported to police online or by calling 101.

Sussex Police is encouraging victims of romance fraud to report the scammer who has targeted them to Scamalytics, anonymously, via an online form.