Romance Fraud in the UK Results in £102 Million Losses in 2025
Severity: Medium (Score: 51.1)
Sources: Theregister, Planetradio
Summary
In 2025, romance fraud led to over £102 million stolen from victims in the UK, with 10,784 reports logged by the City of London Police, marking a 29% increase from 2024. The average victim lost around £9,500, with some cases exceeding £1 million. Victims aged 55 to 74 accounted for nearly half of the total financial losses. Offenders typically build trust through fake online profiles on social media and dating sites before requesting money for fabricated emergencies or investment opportunities. The emotional toll on victims is significant, alongside the financial losses. Police encourage reporting to disrupt these scams and protect others. The rise in reported cases is attributed to increased awareness and confidence in reporting fraud. The use of AI-generated images and messages is also noted as a growing trend among fraudsters. Key Points: • Romance fraud in the UK resulted in £102 million lost in 2025, with a 29% increase in reports. • Victims aged 55 to 74 suffered the highest financial losses, indicating a targeted demographic. • Fraudsters exploit emotional connections through fake profiles, often leading to significant monetary losses.
Key Entities
- Data Breach (attack_type)
- Phishing (attack_type)
- Ransomware (attack_type)
- Scotland (country)
- greatesthitsradio.co.uk (domain)
- T1566 - Phishing (mitre_attack)