Is my online boyfriend or girlfriend a scammer?
Often yes, if they ask you for money. A person you have never met should not ask you to pay for anything. Romance scams reached a record in the UK in 2025: £39.2 million lost through banks, and £102 million reported to the police.
Arrives by WhatsApp, social media, dating sites. Pretends to be: A kind stranger, a soldier, a doctor, a celebrity.
How to spot it
1I love talking to you. I have a problem with my visa and 2I need money for a flight ticket. Can you help me?
Example: rebuilt from UK Finance, Annual Fraud Report 2026, which describes the story, not the words. We blacked out the dark parts.
- They fall in love with you very quickly
- A sad story that needs money
- Other signs to watch for
- They never meet you or turn the camera on
- "Do not tell your family"
How it works
You meet someone online. They are warm and attentive, and the chat soon moves to WhatsApp. After weeks or months they have a problem: a visa, an illness, a flight. They ask for money, gift cards or crypto, and not to tell your family. The photos can be made by AI. Some of these scams end with a fake investment.
What to do
Do not send money, gift cards or crypto to someone you have never met.
Talk to someone you trust. If you have already paid, call your bank now.
If you have lost money, tell your bank now and report it to Report Fraud (reportfraud.police.uk or 0300 123 2040) with your screenshots; in Scotland, call Police Scotland on 101. If someone is coming to your home to collect money or cards, call 999.
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