More than £15 million has been lost to criminals offering bogus investment opportunities on dating platforms this year, according to Action Fraud
The average loss per victim is £15,936, with a total of £15,665,332 lost so far this year, the UK’s reporting centre for fraud and cyber crime said.
Nearly a quarter (23%) of victims were in their 30s, and three-fifths (60%) were aged 30 to 59.
While the vast majority of investments offered are in cryptocurrency, victims have also handed over money believing they are investing in other commodities, including stocks and shares, gold and raw materials, Action Fraud said.
Follow the advice of the Take Five to Stop Fraud campaign by taking a moment to stop and think
Pauline Smith, Action Fraud
Pauline Smith, head of Action Fraud, said: “We’ve all spent more time than ever before online over the past year and criminals have seen this as an opportunity to target unsuspecting victims – particularly those using dating platforms.
“It’s important that, if you’re contacted by someone on a dating platform about an investment opportunity, you follow the advice of the Take Five to Stop Fraud campaign by taking a moment to stop and think – it could protect you and your money.
“If you are suspicious of someone’s behaviour on a dating platform, most platforms have a reporting tool which you can use to report their profile – which helps protect others.”
Victims have reported being approached on dating platforms by criminals,…
