Protecting yourself from relationship fraud

Keeping you and your money safe is our top priority, and we have stringent safeguarding measures in place to help protect all our customers. But there are also steps you need to take to protect yourself from fraud.

To help you identify potential scams and stay safe, we’re publishing a series of articles on fraud protection. This article looks at relationship fraud.

What is relationship fraud?

Relationship fraud, also known as romance fraud, is when someone feigns romantic or intimate intentions to gain a victim’s trust. They then use this closeness to manipulate their target, perhaps to trick them out of money or steal their personal details and commit identity fraud.

Often this type of fraud occurs over the internet, particularly on dating apps or social media. The scammer may develop a relationship over a long period of time, so when they inevitably ask for money it can be tricky to see that it’s a scam.

These fraudsters use manipulative and persuasive language to exploit their targets. Similarly, their requests for money often revolve around emotionally charged subjects, such as an emergency loan or travel tickets to meet with their victim.

An example of relationship fraud

Alex was using a dating app, looking to find a new partner. She matched with a man named Douglas, who was from the city near her.

They hit it off immediately, and soon exchanged numbers and began texting regularly. Douglas was charming, kind, and shared Alex’s sense of humour, and their online relationship blossomed.

The two wanted to meet up, but Douglas said that he was being temporarily relocated to the US for work, so it would have to wait.

A month later Douglas called Alex in a fluster. He was meant to be flying back to the UK that day, and meeting Alex later in the week. But he had been pickpocketed on the way to the airport, missing his flight and losing his wallet.

He apologised and asked Alex if she could pay for the flight, reassuring her that she could trust him and that he’d pay her back as soon as his accounts were reopened.

Alex was unsure, but Douglas sounded panicked and she really wanted to see him. She agreed, and gave him her bank details over the phone.

After that conversation, Douglas stopped replying to Alex’s messages. A few hours after his plane was due to arrive, Alex grew anxious and checked her bank account. Thousands had been transferred out to different unknown accounts. Alex never heard from Douglas again.

Five tips on how to protect yourself

1. Be cautious

One way you can protect yourself against relationship fraud is to maintain caution. There are telltale signs of a possible fraudster, such as a rapidly moving relationship and emotional manipulation. If you think you spot any red flags or feel pressured, take a step back and err on the side of caution. A genuine friend or romantic partner will understand if you need space.

2. Reverse image search

Fake profile pictures can be tricky to spot, but you can perform a reverse image search on a contact’s user photo. This could show you if the image belongs to someone else, or was even generated by AI, allowing you to nip it in the bud.

Be aware, though, that some more sophisticated scammers may create fake profiles elsewhere to make an image appear genuine. So, while a reverse image search can highlight potential scammers, you shouldn’t rely solely on this to check if someone is genuine.

3. Avoid paying someone you’ve never met in person

If someone asks you to send them money, this is a big red flag. No matter how long you’ve been talking to someone, how close you’ve become, or how much you trust them, do not send money to someone you haven’t met in person.

Likewise, don’t give them your bank details or copies of personal documents, and don’t take out loans or credit cards for them. Requests like this should set alarm bells ringing.

Just politely refuse and say you don’t feel comfortable. If the other person is a scammer, they might try to pressure or emotionally blackmail you – such behaviour is a further indication that they’re trying to defraud you.

4. Speak to your friends and family

Relationships are personal, so it can be tempting to be secretive – particularly with online relationships.

However, talking to family and friends can help you get a clearer view. Scammers are experts at manipulating emotions to cloud a person’s judgement. A third party can provide another perspective from outside your relationship bubble.

Similarly, if you think someone you know is being groomed for relationship fraud – perhaps they’re cagey about a new online romance – try to speak to them in an understanding, non-judgemental way.

5. Read up on guides to spot relationship fraudsters

While we’ve tried to give a useful overview here, some organisations have created more detailed guides on how to spot relationship fraud. For instance, Thames Valley Police published an ebooklet that outlines specific manners of speech and behaviours.

If someone targets you

If you believe you’ve been a victim of relationship fraud, or are worried someone is targeting you, be certain to act as quickly as possible.

Make sure you report any unauthorised bank transfers, wrongful payments, or compromised accounts to the relevant organisation and the police, or use the Action Fraud online fraud reporting tool. You should also report fraudulent social media or dating app accounts to the company responsible.

Owing to relationship fraud’s highly personal nature, you may also want to report any incidents anonymously through Scamalytics, where you can redact personal information.

More information on relationship fraud

The Thames Valley Police ebooklet linked to above is an excellent guide on how to spot fraudsters. It gives detailed guidance and tips, along with examples.

The Action Fraud website also has lots of useful general advice and free tools, as does Take Five, an anti-fraud campaign from the trade association UK Finance.

Victim Support is another great site with a wealth of resources and tips on their website. They can also offer you more targeted help if you’ve been a victim of fraud.

You can also always get in touch with us if you’re concerned about your Currencies Direct account. Remember, it’s best to err on the side of caution, so be sure to ask for guidance if something doesn’t seem quite right.