Romance scam reports rise 24% as victims lose thousands – warning signs to know

Romance scam reports made by Lloyds Banking Group customers have risen by 24% in a year, with a particularly sharp increase among younger adults.

If someone you’ve met online starts asking you for money, stop before making a payment and talk to someone you trust.

While reports involving 18 to 24-year-olds jumped by 59%, Lloyds found that people over 65 accounted for more than half of all the money lost.

Younger adults see biggest rise in romance scam reports

The latest figures from Lloyds Bank compare romance scams reported by its customers between 1 September 2025 and 31 August 2026 with the previous 12 months.

It found:

• romance scam reports increased by 24% overall
• reports involving 18 to 24-year-olds rose by 59%
• reports involving 25 to 34-year-olds increased by 39%
• people over 65 accounted for 55% of all the money lost
• victims aged 75 to 84 lost £9,051 on average
• the average loss across all victims was £4,078

The average amount lost was actually 20% lower than the year before, despite the increase in reported cases.

These figures are based on scams reported by Lloyds Banking Group customers. They should not be read as figures for every romance scam across the UK.

Older victims are still losing the most money

The figures show why romance fraud isn’t something that affects one particular age group.

Younger adults saw the fastest increase in reports, but older victims tended to lose much larger amounts.

Those aged 75 to 84 lost an average of £9,051, according to Lloyds. That’s 19% more than the previous year.

Lloyds also found differences in where people were meeting scammers.

Younger victims commonly encountered them through dating apps and social media. People over 50 were more likely to come across fraudsters through traditional dating websites and social media.

How big is romance fraud in the UK?

Lloyds’ figures cover its own customers, but wider police figures show how much money is being lost to this type of fraud.

Report Fraud said in May 2026 that 10,784 romance fraud reports were made during 2025, with reported losses of more than £102 million.

That works out at almost £280,000 being lost each day.

Those figures cover a different group and period from the latest Lloyds data, so the two sets of numbers shouldn’t be directly compared.

How does a romance scam work?

Romance fraud usually starts with someone pretending to want a genuine relationship.

They may create a fake online profile, use somebody else’s photographs and spend weeks or months building trust.

Once the relationship feels genuine, requests for money can begin.

Lloyds warns that scammers may claim they need help with an urgent bill, a medical emergency or travel costs so they can come and meet you.

The request can seem believable because the scammer has already spent time building an emotional connection.

Romance scam warning signs to look for

There isn’t one single sign that proves someone is a scammer, but there are things that should make you stop and check.

Be cautious if someone you have met online:

• repeatedly has excuses for why they cannot meet you in person
• avoids phone or video calls
• quickly wants to move conversations away from a dating site or app onto somewhere such as WhatsApp
• asks you to keep the relationship secret from friends or family
• suddenly has an urgent problem and needs money
• asks you to send bank transfers, vouchers, cryptocurrency or money for an investment
• puts pressure on you to make a payment quickly

Scammers can also steal photographs from genuine social media accounts to make their fake profile look convincing.

You can use Google’s reverse image search to see whether the same photograph appears elsewhere online or under another person’s name.

Don’t be afraid to tell someone

Talking to someone else can be one of the most useful things you do if you’re unsure about an online relationship.

Scammers may try to isolate someone or discourage them from discussing the relationship with friends and family.

Someone outside the relationship may spot inconsistencies or warning signs that are harder to see when you’ve built an emotional connection with a person.

And if a family member comes to you because they’re worried, listen without judging them.

Romance scammers deliberately spend time building trust. Anyone can be caught out.

What should you do if you’ve already sent money?

Contact your bank or payment provider as soon as possible if you think you’ve sent money to a romance scammer.

Tell them exactly what has happened and give them details of the payments you’ve made. They may be able to stop further losses or help recover money.

If you live in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, you should also report the fraud to Report Fraud. You can make a report online or call 0300 123 2040.

If you live in Scotland, report fraud to Police Scotland by calling 101.

If someone is in immediate danger, call 999.

Keep copies of messages, usernames, payment details and anything else connected with the person you were speaking to.

Stop sending further money, even if you’re told one final payment will solve the problem.

Be wary if someone later contacts you claiming they can recover your lost money in return for another payment. Fraudsters can target the same victim again with a recovery scam.

The money request is the biggest warning sign

Meeting someone online is completely normal, and using a dating app or social media does not mean you are going to be scammed.

But a request for money from someone you have only met online should make you stop.

However convincing or urgent the story sounds, don’t send money to somebody you haven’t met and got to know in real life.

If something doesn’t feel right, speak to someone you trust before making a payment.