Looking for love online? Don’t fall victim to romance fraud…

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Posted by BT Life Newsdesk

January 9th 2012 at 10:30

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Broken heart

While many thousands of people in the UK look for love online, around 200,000 of them may have fallen victim to online romance scams according to new research.

The University of Leicester study shows that online love-seekers have been the target of online romance scams, where criminals set up fake identities using stolen photographs (often of models or army officers) and develop an online relationship with their victim using online dating sites.

At some point the criminal will pretend to be in urgent need of money – and many kind-hearted online daters are only too happy to help.

The Serious Organised Crime Agency reports that victims have lost amounts ranging from £50 to an incredible £240,000.

Professor Monica Whitty, who led the study, said:

“Our data suggests that the numbers of British victims of this relatively new crime is much higher than reported incidents would suggest. It also confirms law enforcement suspicions that this is an under-reported crime, and thus more serious than first thought.

“This is a concern not solely because people are losing large sums of money to these criminals, but also because of the psychological impact experienced by victims of this crime. It is our view that the trauma caused by this scam is worse than any other, because of the ‘double hit’ experienced by the victims – loss of monies and a ‘romantic relationship’.”

Anyone who has been a victim of romance fraud can report it at www.actionfraud.org.uk.

Do you use online dating sites? Have you experienced romance fraud? Let us know below.

 

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