In today’s digital age, romance fraud has become increasingly prevalent with scammers targeting individuals who are often lonely and looking for love and companionship.
CEL Solicitors have recovered over £70 million to date, much of which has been from romance fraud cases. We are dedicated not only to empowering victims to retrieve their lost funds but also to equipping people to spot the signs of romance fraud, as we understand the devastating impact it can have. Read our red flags to look out for when looking for love online.
1. Love Bombing
One of the earliest and most noticeable signs of a romance scam is love bombing. This tactic involves overwhelming the victim with excessive attention, affection, and declarations of love in a short period, often in the initial stages of the relationship.
Scammers may send constant messages, shower the victim with compliments, and express strong feelings after just a few interactions.
2. Reluctance to Meet in Person
If you have developed a relationship with someone online and they are reluctant to meet in person, this may be an indicator of a romance scam. They might claim to work abroad, have a medical emergency, or be dealing with family issues. While long-distance relationships can be genuine, fraudsters often avoid face-to-face meetings to maintain their deception.
3. Requests for Money and Interests in Personal Finances
A fraudster will eventually request money, often claiming it is for an urgent or dire situation, such as medical emergencies, plane tickets, or legal fees. Fraudsters may also show an unusual interest in your finances by asking about your savings or income. This is a tactic employed by many scammers to persuade their victims to invest in bogus cryptocurrency schemes.
Recovering Money from a Romance Scam
Romance scams share common characteristics with other types of fraud. At their core, all scams involve deceit, where the fraudster crafts elaborate lies to mislead their victims. They manipulate trust, often spending weeks or months building a seemingly genuine relationship which ultimately leads to significant financial loss for the victims and emotional turmoil. Recognising these signs can help individuals stay vigilant against this devastating kind of fraud.
If you’ve fallen victim to a romance scam, there is still hope for getting your money back. Our dedicated fraud and scam team is on hand to help you recover your money. Tell CEL today on 0808 273 0900 or apply online and a member of our team will be in touch.
