Financial institution highlights frequent jobs and excuses for needing cash utilized in romance scams

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Your help makes all of the distinction. Learn extra A soar in stories of over-55s being conned by romance scams has been recorded by a significant financial institution, because it disclosed the most typical jobs these criminals declare to be doing, and the more than likely excuses they make for urgently needing money.

Lloyds recorded a 52% rise in romance scams amongst victims aged over 55 over the previous yr, in contrast with the earlier yr.

Its evaluation was based mostly on scams reported by Lloyds Banking Group prospects, which incorporates the manufacturers Halifax and Financial institution of Scotland, in addition to Lloyds.

It in contrast romance rip-off stories within the 12 months to July 2025 with rip-off stories made within the earlier 12-month interval.

Lloyds mentioned 55 to 64-year-olds are probably the most focused age group, making up a fifth (20%) of romance rip-off victims, adopted by these aged 65 to 74, who make up 18% of instances, in line with its information.

Alongside the soar in stories involving over-55s, Lloyds has additionally seen a 20% annual rise in instances involving victims aged 35 to 44.

Victims aged 75 to 84 lose probably the most on common to romance scams, at £8,068, Lloyds mentioned. The typical loss throughout all age teams is £5,219.

Romance scammers will typically declare to be doing sure jobs to present an excuse for why they might be exhausting to contact or can not meet up in particular person.

In response to Lloyds’ information, the most typical occupations claimed by romance scammers are:

– Army personnel. Scammers typically declare to be troopers, maybe stationed abroad or in battle zones.

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– Oil rig employees. This excuse is used ceaselessly by scammers, each female and male, which they declare makes communication troublesome, Lloyds mentioned.

– Different frequent occupations scammers declare to carry are enterprise homeowners, engineers and medical doctors, typically claiming to be working overseas in battle zones or on humanitarian missions.

And the most typical excuses utilized by romance scammers for needing cash, in line with Lloyds’ information are:

– Medical emergencies. Scammers generally declare both they or a member of the family want pressing medical remedy, corresponding to after a automotive accident.

– Journey and residing bills. Criminals might request cash for flights or journey bills to go to the sufferer. Or they could ask for assist with lease, meals, or different each day bills.

– Different causes they might use for needing cash embody authorized charges, making tax or customs funds or enterprise issues.

Scammers will typically ask victims to ship cash to them through financial institution switch, however different ways embody asking the sufferer to buy on-line reward playing cards and ship them as an alternative. These are straightforward for the scammer to promote on and revenue from, Lloyds mentioned.

In a single case highlighted by Lloyds, an 80-year-old lady met somebody on-line by means of a phrase sport.

The particular person claimed his son was engaged on an oil rig close to Germany.

He then claimed his son was in a automotive accident and had died, and that he was going to work on the oil rig to complete the job instead of his son.

He then claimed he had been arrested whereas travelling and wanted to pay a tax invoice and the ladies agreed to ship £11,000.

She later spoke to the financial institution and was informed that she had been scammed.

In one other case, an 86-year-old man met a lady on a singles web site they usually began texting. She claimed she had a foul line for cellphone and video calls.

Inside just a few weeks of chatting, she requested for assist with cash, claiming she was travelling to Australia to retrieve some gold she had inherited.

He despatched her cash to cowl journey bills for her to go to him, however she failed to indicate up. He ended contact, realising he had been scammed. He had misplaced £2,260.

Liz Ziegler, fraud prevention director, Lloyds mentioned: “Our specialist fraud prevention groups work exhausting to guard and safeguard prospects from fraud, and romance scams are a few of the cruellest instances they take care of.

“Profiting from people who find themselves searching for love and companionship, fraudsters play with victims’ feelings once they may very well be at their most weak.

“While they are often convincing, it’s straightforward to identify a few of the most blatant errors these scammers could make. All the time take a step again and ask your self if what they're telling you sounds plausible.

“By no means in any circumstances ship cash to somebody you’ve met on-line. No good relationship begins off on this manner, and there aren’t many legitimate causes in 2025 why somebody can’t communicate to you on the cellphone.

“When you have an older particular person in your life that's lively on-line, be certain that to coach them as finest you possibly can on the dangers and indicators of potential fraudsters trying to reap the benefits of them.”

Detective Superintendent Oliver Little, from the lead power operations room on the Metropolis of London Police mentioned: “Romance fraudsters are extremely manipulative and sometimes function with chilling precision, coercing victims by means of emotional management, false urgency, and elaborate lies.”

He added: “If you happen to’ve met somebody on-line, keep throughout the app’s messaging platform, be cautious of requests for cash, and communicate to buddies or household earlier than making choices.

“Criminals will attempt to isolate you – don’t give them the chance. Bear in mind, in case you haven’t met them in particular person, you don’t owe them something.”

Lloyds has highlighted some romance rip-off purple flags to be careful for:

1. Scammers typically profess love in a short time. Be cautious of strangers contacting you on social media and ask your self if their intentions are real.

2. Criminals typically make excuses to keep away from video calls or in-person conferences. Be cautious of somebody who has infinite excuses for why they can't meet in particular person.

3. Scammers ask for cash for numerous emergencies or bills. Lloyds mentioned folks ought to keep away from transferring cash to a stranger, notably one they've by no means met in actual life.

4. Criminals might go “off script” and be inconsistent of their tales. If you happen to suspect somebody you're speaking to on-line, irrespective of how private it might really feel, communicate to somebody you belief in your day-to-day life to get an out of doors standpoint, Lloyds suggests.

5. Fraudsters will typically attempt to manipulate their victims by piling on strain with a way of urgency or attempting to make victims really feel responsible. If you happen to really feel underneath strain, take a step again and query their intentions.