Romance scams cost people in Northern Ireland £814,400 last year, the PSNI has said, as it urges anyone using dating apps or social media to stay on their guard. Police received 61 reports of dating scams in 2025, and they believe the true figure is higher because many victims feel too embarrassed to come forward.
The warning was issued on Saturday 3 October, World Romance Scams Prevention Day.
At a glance
- Reports in 2025: 61 dating scams in Northern Ireland
- Reported losses: £814,400
- Who gets targeted: anyone, regardless of age, gender, sexuality or race, police say
- The golden rule: never send money or share bank details with someone you have only met online
- Already lost money? Contact your bank straight away, then report it to police
How the scam works
Superintendent Joanne Gibson, who also chairs the ScamwiseNI Partnership, said the people behind these scams put real effort into the deception.
“Romance scammers are skilled manipulators,” she said. “Many people use social media and dating sites to find love and meet new people and, while in many cases, situations are safe and legitimate, there are, unfortunately, criminals who take advantage of this and go to great lengths to build a fake relationship. Their sole aim is stealing people’s money.”
Police say the pattern is often the same. The scammer seems charming and genuinely interested, but always has an excuse for not meeting face to face. Hints about money worries follow, and then come the requests: help with medical or legal bills, money for a family member or for travel, or a chance to get in on an “investment”. The cash is always going to be paid back. It never is.
“For some people who believe they’ve found a genuine, meaningful relationship, the stark reality is they’ve been emotionally and financially drained,” Superintendent Gibson said. “Even if any money lost is recovered, the person is still left to cope with the emotional impact and distress.”
Red flags to watch for
- Moving off the app fast. Police say fraudsters push to switch to texts or another messaging service, so they can keep in touch even if the dating site deletes their fake profile.
- Details that don’t add up. Check their social media against what they’ve told you. Names, location and family members are a good place to start.
- Photos that turn up elsewhere. Profile pictures can be lifted from anywhere online, and a reverse image search can show whether they’re real.
- Any request for money. That includes gift cards, cryptocurrency, access to your bank account or personal information.
- Always a reason not to meet. The PSNI’s advice is never to send money to anyone you haven’t met and verified in person.
What to do if you’re worried
If you think you’re being targeted, the PSNI says you should stop all contact, report the profile to the dating platform and keep every bit of evidence: messages, usernames and payment details. Talking it through with someone you trust can help too.
If you’ve already sent money, contact your bank immediately. You can report it to police online or by calling 101, or to Report Fraud at reportfraud.police.uk or on 0300 123 2040. There’s more advice on the PSNI’s romance scams page and from ScamwiseNI.
“Fraudsters don’t care about gender, sexuality, age or race. They target everyone,” Superintendent Gibson said. “Do not feel ashamed – you are not at fault. You are not alone – help and support is available.”
Staying safe in Belfast
Romance fraud is just one of the scams doing the rounds. Over the summer, police warned householders after a rogue trader called at homes in North Belfast. If a scam has left you struggling with money, free help is out there, and Advice NI dealt with £42.8m of debt last year.
A genuine match should be happy to meet up. When they do, pick somewhere busy and public, and the city centre has no shortage of cafés and bars for a first date.
Discover more from LoveBelfast
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
