Northern Ireland victims lose more than £814,000 to romance scams
People in Northern Ireland lost more than £814,000 to romance scams last year, according to figures highlighted by police as they warn people about the dangers of online dating fraud.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland said 61 dating scams were reported during 2025, with victims reporting combined losses of £814,400.
That equates to an average reported loss of more than £13,000 per case.
Police believe the true scale of romance fraud could be greater, with some victims potentially reluctant to report what has happened because of embarrassment.
Criminals build trust before asking for money
The warning has been issued to coincide with World Romance Scams Prevention Day.
Superintendent Joanne Gibson, who chairs the ScamwiseNI Partnership, said romance scammers can spend considerable time creating what appears to be a genuine relationship with their intended victim.
Fraudsters can initially appear charming and interested in the person they are targeting while finding repeated excuses for why they cannot meet face-to-face.
Once trust has been established, requests for money can begin.
Police say criminals may claim they need financial help to cover medical or legal bills, assist a family member or pay for travel.
Some victims can also be encouraged to put money into supposed investment opportunities.
Emotional as well as financial impact
The PSNI has warned that the consequences of romance fraud can extend beyond the money which has been lost.
Victims may believe they have formed a genuine and meaningful relationship before discovering that the person they trusted was attempting to exploit them financially.
Police say scammers can target people regardless of their age, gender, sexuality or race.
The PSNI is encouraging anyone who has been targeted to report what happened and seek support.
Warning over dating apps and social media
People using dating apps and social media are being advised never to send money or provide banking information to someone they have only met online.
Police recommend keeping conversations on the dating platform where contact was originally made, as the platforms can have safeguards designed to identify fraudulent accounts.
Users are also encouraged to check whether information provided by someone online is consistent with their social media presence.
A reverse-image search can also help establish whether profile photographs have been taken from elsewhere online.
Requests for money, gift cards, cryptocurrency, bank account access or personal financial information should be treated as warning signs.
Anyone who believes they have been targeted should stop contact, retain potential evidence such as messages and payment details, and report the account to the relevant platform.
People who have already transferred money should contact their bank immediately and report the incident to police.