Dyfed-Powys sees biggest rise in cases

PREDATORY dating scammers have cost the UK public more than £400 million in financial losses over the past five years, according to reports from Action Fraud.

Data compiled by Action Fraud Claims Advice—a private service separate from the national reporting centre—reveals that nearly 40,000 crime reports were submitted between January 2020 and December 2024. Wales featured prominently, with close to 1,900 reports originating from the country.

Dyfed-Powys sees sharpest rise in dating scams

Dyfed-Powys recorded 472 reports of romance fraud over five years, making it one of the most affected areas in Wales. The region saw 72 reports in 2020, a figure that surged to 118 the following year. Since then, cases have remained in the 90s, with 98 in 2022, 91 in 2023, and 93 in 2024.

The 29% increase in cases between 2020 and 2024 was the highest in Wales, ahead of South Wales, which saw a 24% rise in reports.

South Wales recorded 662 cases over five years—more than any other Welsh police force area. Reports fluctuated, with 120 in 2020, 145 in 2021, two consecutive years of 124 cases, and a rise to 149 in 2024.

North Wales followed closely behind, with 468 reports. Unlike other regions, 2023 was the worst year for romance fraud, with 108 reports—a sharp rise from 85 the year before.

Gwent Police received 291 reports over the five-year period. Numbers fluctuated, with 56 reports in 2020, rising to 68 in 2021, dropping to 47 in 2022, then climbing back to 65 in 2023 before falling to 55 in 2024. Gwent was one of only six UK regions where reports decreased compared to 2020.

Wales’ figures compared to the UK

Greater London saw the highest number of romance fraud reports, with 5,168 cases over five years. Other hotspots included:

• West Midlands (1,550 reports)
• Sussex (1,451 reports)
• Thames Valley (1,401 reports)

A total of 39 out of 48 police forces saw a rise of at least 10% in romance fraud cases between 2020 and 2024. Reports in Northern Ireland and Scotland increased by a third over the same period.

The UK-wide average per police region was 813 reports over five years, meaning all Welsh areas fell below the national average. However, excluding Greater London and cases with unknown origins (4,117 reports), the average was 651—just 11 fewer than South Wales’ 662 cases.

Victims losing over £10,000 on average

The financial impact of romance fraud is staggering, with total estimated losses exceeding £409 million.

In 2021, the highest number of reports (8,678) was recorded, with victims losing a combined £87,694,153—an average of £10,105 per person. While case numbers have since fluctuated, 2024 saw an increase, with 8,548 reports filed, marking a rise of 465 cases from the previous year and 708 from 2022.

Financial losses have also surged. In 2020, reported losses totalled £66,339,032, averaging £9,884 per case. By 2024, this had climbed to £92,215,871, with an average loss of £10,788 per victim—an increase of nearly 40% over five years.

Though scammers may target vulnerable individuals around Valentine’s Day, the data suggests romance fraud is a year-round threat. Reports between 14 February and 14 March only exceeded the monthly average once, in 2021, when complaints surged to nearly 27 per day.

Shocking figures reveal no one is safe

The data highlights that romance scams affect people across all demographics.

Of the 35,000 reports where gender was recorded, 51% of victims identified as female (17,956), while 49% were male (17,032).

Middle-aged individuals were the most frequent victims:

• 50-59-year-olds: 7,393 cases
• 40-49-year-olds: 6,445 cases

However, all age groups were represented, including 73 victims aged 90-99 and one victim over 100 years old.

Disturbingly, 53 victims were under the age of 10, and a further 1,472 were under 20. Experts warn that this is symptomatic of a growing epidemic of online child exploitation. The NSPCC reported in September that counselling requests for online grooming and sextortion have risen sharply.

“Romance fraud is a devastating crime”

Victim Support, an independent charity, emphasised the emotional damage inflicted by romance fraud.

Lisa Mills, Senior Fraud Manager at Victim Support, said: “Romance fraud is a devastating crime. For victims, it isn’t just about losing money. The psychological and emotional impact of being deceived by someone you trusted deeply can severely damage confidence and self-worth.

“Sadly, many victims feel too embarrassed to confide in friends or family, leaving them even more isolated.

“If you have been a victim, you are not to blame—fraudsters are skilled manipulators who deceive thousands each year. Get in touch with Victim Support for free, confidential help via our 24/7 Supportline (08 08 16 89 111) or live chat service.”

The UK government hopes new measures under the Online Safety Act 2023 will encourage tech firms to better protect users. Ofcom issued its first guidelines on tackling fraud in December, with fraud listed as a “priority” crime that social media and search platforms must actively work to prevent.

Where to get help

Victims of romance fraud can report cases to Action Fraud by visiting www.actionfraud.police.uk.

Action Fraud Claims Advice offers free support and fraud recovery assistance for victims seeking to reclaim lost funds.