Victorians reported 750 romance scams causing losses of more than $10 million in 2022.
People are urged to be aware of the warning signs when forming a relationship with someone online, with scammers becoming increasingly sophisticated.
One Victorian lost more than $10,000 to a romance scammer who claimed to be going through a divorce in Amsterdam – the pair exchanged photos and messages before the man provided images of flight tickets to support his story.
The scammer soon requested money from the woman, saying he had been detained at the airport and needed bail money for his release that he would pay back with interest. After the scammer had received the money, he made no further contact with the woman.
Another Victorian was asked to pay more than $1300 to a scammer who requested the money for food and data to complete his mission for the army. He later asked for more money to care for his unwell mother who lived overseas.
Once the woman realised she was being scammed she tried ending contact with the scammer, who then became aggressive and tried to access her personal accounts.
Dating and romance scams are continually evolving, with scammers using online gaming and social media platforms in addition to dating sites and apps.
Potential red flags include over the top expressions of love, known as lovebombing, or anyone who quickly tries to move the conversation to another app.
It is recommended that people question anyone who requests money or banking details – money sent via money order, wire transfer, international funds or cryptocurrency can be impossible to recover. Google’s reverse image search function can also be helpful in checking if a person’s photos appear elsewhere on the internet.
Anyone who believes they have been the victim of a romance scam should contact Victoria Police and report the matter to Consumer Affairs Victoria at consumer.vic.gov.au/reportascam. Victims should also contact their bank or
financial institution as soon as possible.
As well as financial losses, romance scams can cause significant emotional suffering. People experiencing emotional distress about their experience with a scam can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.
