Valentine’s Day is just around the corner — and it seems men are caught in a love trap.
For reports of romance scams involving male victims jumped 40 per cent between 2022 and 2023, according to Britain’s biggest building society.
And one in five involved victims aged 20 to 30 last year, figures for Nationwide show.
But women are more likely to lose more than men, with the average claim for them standing at £10,610, compared with £8,181 for men.
Nationwide, which analysed its own data, said there was a 2 per cent drop in scams involving female victims.
It is urging love-struck customers concerned about a payment to use its scam checker service before parting with money.
Reports of romance scams involving male victims jumped 40 per cent between 2022 and 2023
Nationwide released the figures ahead of Valentine’s Day on February 14.
The society is encouraging customers concerned about a payment to use its scam checker service before parting with any money.
If the payment goes ahead and the customer is subsequently scammed, they will be fully reimbursed unless Nationwide told them not to proceed.
Jim Winters, Nationwide’s director of economic crime, said: ‘Criminals can be very convincing and persuasive enough to get someone looking for love or feeling lonely to give them their trust, personal details and ultimately their money, even when they haven’t actually met each other in person.
‘Our data shows all ages can be a target of romance scams as criminals will cast their net far and wide to stand the best chance of snaring a victim.’
Women are more likely to lose more than men, with the average claim for them standing at £10,610, compared with £8,181 for men
In one case seen by Nationwide, a customer met someone via social media who claimed to be serving in the United States military and also to have sent expensive gifts to Nationwide’s customer.
The customer was told that these would be held until taxes and customs fees were paid.
The customer sent a payment of £7,000 but the ‘courier’ delivering the packages contacted them and said police had seized the gifts and further payments were required.
The scam was reported by a family member.
Following a visit to a Nationwide branch, the customer realised it was a scam and no further payments were made, while the initial payment was refunded.
Nationwide warned that fraudsters will try to move interactions away from dating apps and websites. They may encourage people to use private emails, phone calls and instant messaging, that cannot be easily tracked.
Read More: World News | Entertainment News | Celeb News
247
