UK Police Valentine’s Warning: How Romance Fraud Develops Before February
Police forces across the UK regularly issue romance-fraud warnings around Valentine’s Day, when dating activity and public discussion of relationships increase.
The timing does not mean that fraud begins in February. In many cases, the offender has already spent weeks or months building trust, creating emotional dependence and learning about the victim’s personal circumstances before making a financial request.
In January 2025, the City of London Police reported that more than £99.4 million was lost by victims reporting romance fraud during 2024, with February recording the highest financial losses of any month that year. The warning followed arrests connected with an alleged celebrity-impersonation romance fraud in which victims were reportedly coerced into handing over more than £200,000.
The central lesson is that romance fraud should not be treated as a seasonal problem. Valentine’s Day provides an opportunity to raise awareness, but the underlying manipulation may continue throughout the year.
Why police issue warnings before Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day can create opportunities for fraudsters because more people may be:
- Joining dating platforms;
- Responding to unsolicited social-media messages;
- Reconnecting with previous contacts;
- Looking for companionship;
- Discussing relationships more openly;
- Receiving romantic messages, gifts or invitations;
- Feeling pressure to establish or progress a relationship.
Fraudsters can use this environment to make intense attention and rapid declarations of affection appear more natural.
Police warnings are intended to encourage people to slow down, verify identities independently and speak to someone they trust before sending money.
How the fraud may begin months earlier
Staffordshire Police has warned that offenders may begin establishing false relationships during the Christmas period before introducing financial demands closer to Valentine’s Day.
The process may develop through several stages.
Initial contact
The offender creates or uses a profile designed to appeal to the person being targeted.
They may claim to be:
- A military officer;
- A doctor or medical professional;
- An offshore worker;
- A successful business owner;
- An engineer working overseas;
- A celebrity or representative;
- A widower or widow;
- Someone seeking a serious long-term relationship.
Building trust
The offender sends frequent messages, shares personal stories and encourages the victim to discuss their own life.
They may:
- Declare affection unusually quickly;
- Describe the relationship as fate;
- Discuss marriage or living together;
- Offer constant emotional support;
- Create daily communication routines;
- Claim that the victim is the only person they trust;
- Encourage secrecy from family or friends.
Introducing a crisis
Once the relationship feels established, an urgent financial problem appears.
Common stories involve:
- Medical treatment;
- Travel costs;
- Customs or courier charges;
- Frozen bank accounts;
- Legal fees;
- A family emergency;
- Business difficulties;
- An investment opportunity;
- Funds needed before a planned meeting.
Escalating the payments
A smaller initial payment may be followed by increasingly substantial demands.
The offender may claim that one final payment is needed before:
- The money can be released;
- They can travel to the UK;
- An investment can be completed;
- A package can clear customs;
- A debt can be repaid;
- The couple can finally meet.
The promised meeting or repayment is then delayed by another crisis.
Recent police warnings and reported losses
Police forces continued issuing romance-fraud warnings ahead of Valentine’s Day in 2026.
Nottinghamshire Police reported 154 romance-fraud cases during 2025, with combined losses of just over £1 million.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland reported 100 romance-scam reports between April 2025 and early February 2026, involving losses of more than £866,000.
Greater Manchester Police highlighted the case of an 81-year-old woman who was persuaded to purchase £5,000 in gift cards by someone she believed was connected to a well-known singer.
These figures come from different police areas and reporting periods, so they should not be combined or treated as a single national total. Together, they demonstrate that the threat affects victims across the country and may involve celebrity impersonation, dating profiles and prolonged emotional manipulation.
Warning signs police want people to recognise
One warning sign alone does not prove that a relationship is fraudulent. Concern should increase where several behaviours occur together.
Possible indicators include:
- The relationship becoming intense very quickly;
- Repeated excuses for avoiding an in-person meeting;
- Cancelled or unusually brief video calls;
- Inconsistent details about work, location or family;
- Requests to leave the original dating platform;
- Pressure to keep the relationship private;
- Claims involving celebrity or professional status;
- An urgent request for money;
- Requests for gift cards or cryptocurrency;
- Investment opportunities introduced by the new partner;
- Instructions to receive or forward funds;
- Anger or distress when reasonable questions are asked.
Police guidance advises people not to send money to someone known only online and to discuss financial requests with a trusted friend or relative.
For a complete prevention checklist, read How to Spot a Romance Scam: Warning Signs and Practical Steps.
Why celebrity impersonation can be persuasive
Some fraudsters impersonate actors, musicians or other public figures. Others claim to be an assistant, manager or representative acting on the celebrity’s behalf.
The approach may appear convincing because:
- Photographs and videos of the celebrity are widely available;
- Public information can be used to answer questions;
- Unofficial fan accounts may look authentic;
- The fraudster may claim secrecy is required;
- A supposed representative may support the false identity;
- The victim may already admire or trust the public figure.
A genuine celebrity or representative should not require a stranger to purchase gift cards, transfer money, fund travel or keep financial requests secret.
Independent verification should never rely on accounts or contact details supplied only by the person making the request.
Gift cards, bank transfers and cryptocurrency
Romance fraud can involve several payment methods.
Gift cards
Fraudsters may ask the victim to purchase gift cards and send photographs of the codes.
Gift-card payments are attractive to criminals because they may be redeemed quickly and can be difficult to reverse.
Bank transfers
The recipient account may belong to:
- The offender;
- A money mule;
- Another victim;
- A business controlled by an associate;
- An intermediary moving funds through the network.
The name on the account may therefore not identify the person communicating with the victim.
Cryptocurrency
A fraudster may introduce a trading platform or persuade the victim to convert money into cryptocurrency.
The platform may display false profits while preventing withdrawals unless additional fees are paid.
No payment method should be considered safe merely because the person presents it as temporary, private or more efficient.
What to do before sending money
Take these steps:
- Pause the transaction.
- Speak to a trusted friend or relative.
- Verify the person’s identity independently.
- Check photographs using reverse-image search.
- Confirm employment through independently sourced details.
- Contact the bank using a verified telephone number.
- Do not borrow or release property funds.
- Do not purchase gift cards for someone known only online.
- Do not invest through a platform recommended by the person.
- Reject demands for secrecy or immediate action.
A genuine partner should understand reasonable checks where money, property or sensitive information is involved.
What to do if money has already been sent
Act promptly:
- Stop further payments.
- Contact the bank or payment provider immediately.
- Ask whether recent transfers can be recalled or reviewed.
- Preserve complete message and payment records.
- Report the matter through Report Fraud or the relevant police force.
- Notify the dating or social-media platform.
- Secure email, banking and social-media accounts.
- Tell a trusted person.
- Avoid confronting the suspected fraudster.
- Do not pay anyone promising guaranteed recovery.
Police guidance emphasises that romance fraud is never the victim’s fault and that confidential support is available through organisations including Victim Support.
For detailed post-loss guidance, read Romance Fraud Investigation and Asset Recovery: What Victims Should Do.
How families can raise concerns
Relatives may identify unusual behaviour or financial decisions before they know the full details of the relationship.
Possible signs include:
- Unexplained transfers;
- Requests for help buying gift cards;
- New borrowing or credit;
- Attempts to sell property unexpectedly;
- Secrecy about a new relationship;
- Withdrawal from friends or family;
- Plans to move overseas quickly;
- Defensiveness when financial questions are raised;
- Repeated emergencies involving the online contact.
Approach the conversation calmly.
Helpful steps include:
- Listening without ridicule;
- Asking how the relationship began;
- Focusing on specific inconsistencies;
- Encouraging a pause in payments;
- Offering to contact the bank together;
- Helping preserve evidence;
- Suggesting independent identity checks;
- Remaining supportive if the person is not immediately ready to accept the concern.
Aggressive confrontation may cause the victim to withdraw and become more dependent on the offender.
Why Valentine’s warnings should not expire after February
The strongest value of a Valentine’s police warning is not the seasonal headline. It is the reminder that fraudsters exploit trust, loneliness, hope and ordinary relationship behaviour throughout the year.
Organisations and families should continue promoting the same safeguards after February:
- Verify online identities independently;
- Discuss significant payments with someone trusted;
- Treat guaranteed investment returns cautiously;
- Question repeated reasons for avoiding meetings;
- Preserve evidence when concerns arise;
- Report suspected fraud promptly;
- Support victims without blame.
UK Finance’s 2026 fraud reporting showed that romance-fraud losses increased by 23% to £39.2 million during 2025, while recorded case numbers rose by 22%. This indicates that romance fraud remains a continuing national problem rather than a short seasonal spike.
When an investigation may help
An investigation may be considered where:
- The claimed identity cannot be verified;
- A substantial payment is being requested;
- Several aliases or accounts are involved;
- The person claims celebrity or professional status;
- Money has already been transferred;
- Companies or investment platforms have been introduced;
- The same photographs appear under different names;
- The matter crosses several jurisdictions;
- The bank or solicitor requires organised evidence.
Depending on the available information, work may include:
- Identity and alias enquiries;
- Social-media research;
- Image and profile comparison;
- Company and address checks;
- Telephone and email analysis;
- Financial intelligence;
- Cryptocurrency tracing;
- Evidence collation.
An investigation cannot guarantee that the person will be identified or that funds will be recovered.
Romance-fraud investigation support
Conflict International assists individuals, families and legal advisers with cases involving suspected romance fraud, false identities and financial deception.
Depending on the circumstances, our work may include:
- Identity and background enquiries;
- Open-source and digital investigation;
- Company and address research;
- Financial intelligence;
- Cryptocurrency analysis;
- Asset tracing;
- Evidence collation;
- International investigative support.
Learn more about our Fraud and Financial Investigation Services, or contact us in confidence to discuss the available evidence and realistic next steps.
Where money has recently been transferred, contact the bank and report the fraud before waiting for a private investigation.