An estimated £1.2m lost to romance scams last year

A fraud expert at the States of Jersey Police has estimated that islanders may have lost around £1.2 million to romance scams in 2024.

On record, five cases of romance fraud were reported to the local force last year, with financial losses totalling £406,003. 

This is an 58% increase on 2023, when three islanders came forward, saying they lost £274,100 to scammers. 

Detective Constable Paul Otter from the Jersey Financial Crimes Unit, estimates that due to severe underreporting, the 2024 total could be much higher:

"It's hard to put a figure on it really because, with this type of crime, you don't get many people report. The reason for that is is that the actual victim will believe they are in a relationship.

"It's even got to the point where we will go to the victim and say: 'this is a fake relationship, you are being scammed, it is not real' and they'll be like 'well how can it be? I've been speaking to this person for months. I've seen them online, seen them on video call' - things like that."

"I said the total loss for 2024 was £406,000 but it could be more than that due to the lack of reporting. I wouldn't be surprised if it was double, triple even." - Detective Constable Paul Otter

DC Otter continued:

"The issue with romance fraud is we won't be made aware of it for a couple of reasons: the victim a) - won't realise they are being scammed so we won't get the fraud reporting and b) - they might get to the point where they finally realise they are the victim and they feel stupid so won't come forward."

The States of Jersey Police Headquarters

DC Otter tells us that the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) is playing right in to scammers' hands:

"The technology out there is amazing for the fraudster. What that can mean is they can use artificial intelligence to even create video calls to sort of 'authenticate' who they are.

"The scammers are clever. They will try different methods to authenticate themselves such as showing a passport, they might even video call you - but it will all be AI.

"What is say is just be weary of trusting someone online. They will typically never meet you. They will make any excuse under the sun - that is a huge red flag. If the person is not willing to meet you, it is more than likely that they are a fake person."

Action Fraud advice

Action Fraud has this this advice on what people should never do for people they've just met online:

• Sending money to anyone, even if it is on their behalf. 

• Allowing access to your bank account. 

• Taking a loan out for them. 

• Providing copies of your personal documents, such as passports or driving licenses. 

• Investing your money on their behalf. 

• Purchasing, and sending gift card codes from Amazon or iTunes. 

• Agreeing to receive and/or send parcels on their behalf (laptops, mobile phones etc.)