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A leap in studies of over-55s being conned by romance scams has been recorded by a serious financial institution, because it disclosed the most typical jobs these criminals declare to be doing, and the almost certainly excuses they make for urgently needing money.
Lloyds recorded a 52% rise in romance scams amongst victims aged over 55 over the previous 12 months, in contrast with the earlier 12 months.
Its evaluation was primarily based on scams reported by Lloyds Banking Group clients, which incorporates the manufacturers Halifax and Financial institution of Scotland, in addition to Lloyds.
It in contrast romance rip-off studies within the 12 months to July 2025 with rip-off studies made within the earlier 12-month interval.
Lloyds stated 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 knowledge.
Alongside the leap in studies 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 stated. The typical loss throughout all age teams is £5,219.
Romance scammers will typically declare to be doing sure jobs to provide an excuse for why they could be arduous to contact or can’t meet up in individual.
In keeping with Lloyds’ knowledge, 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 stated.
– 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’ knowledge are:
– Medical emergencies. Scammers generally declare both they or a member of the family want pressing medical remedy, akin to after a automotive accident.
– Journey and residing bills. Criminals could request cash for flights or journey bills to go to the sufferer. Or they could ask for assist with hire, meals, or different every day bills.
– Different causes they could 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 by way of financial institution switch, however different ways embody asking the sufferer to buy on-line present playing cards and ship them as an alternative. These are straightforward for the scammer to promote on and revenue from, Lloyds stated.
In a single case highlighted by Lloyds, an 80-year-old girl met somebody on-line by a phrase sport.
The individual 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 rather than 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 girl on a singles web site and so they began texting. She claimed she had a nasty 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 stated: “Our specialist fraud prevention groups work arduous to guard and safeguard clients from fraud, and romance scams are a number of the cruellest instances they take care of.
“Benefiting from people who find themselves on the lookout for love and companionship, fraudsters play with victims’ feelings after they may very well be at their most weak.
“While they are often convincing, it’s straightforward to identify a number of the most blatant errors these scammers could make. At all times 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 converse to you on the cellphone.
“In case you have an older individual in your life that’s lively on-line, ensure that to teach them as greatest you may on the dangers and indicators of potential fraudsters seeking to benefit from them.”
Detective Superintendent Oliver Little, from the lead drive operations room on the Metropolis of London Police stated: “Romance fraudsters are extremely manipulative and sometimes function with chilling precision, coercing victims by emotional management, false urgency, and elaborate lies.”
He added: “When you’ve met somebody on-line, keep throughout the app’s messaging platform, be cautious of requests for cash, and converse to buddies or household earlier than making choices.
“Criminals will attempt to isolate you – don’t give them the chance. Keep in mind, in case you haven’t met them in individual, 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 individual.
3. Scammers ask for cash for varied emergencies or bills. Lloyds stated individuals ought to keep away from transferring cash to a stranger, notably one they’ve by no means met in actual life.
4. Criminals could go “off script” and be inconsistent of their tales. When you suspect somebody you’re speaking to on-line, regardless of how private it could really feel, converse to somebody you belief in your day-to-day life to get an out of doors viewpoint, Lloyds suggests.
5. Fraudsters will typically attempt to manipulate their victims by piling on stress with a way of urgency or making an attempt to make victims really feel responsible. When you really feel beneath stress, take a step again and query their intentions.
