Report by Barclays
Barclays Scams Bulletin: Romance scam reports rise 20 per cent as online dating hits 30-year anniversary
Key Findings
One in 10 (12 per cent) UK adults have been targeted, or know someone who has been targeted, by a romance scam.
One fifth (19 per cent) of romance scam victims said they overlooked red flags because they were excited about the prospect of finding love.
Close to four in 10 (37 per cent) of those targeted by a romance scam were discouraged from dating or searching for a potential partner afterwards
Of those targeted by a romance scammer, two fifths (39 per cent) said they had been communicating with the scammer for less than a month when asked for money.
A third (32 per cent) of those targeted by a romance scam said the scammer created a false sense of urgency.
In the first quarter of 2025, romance scam reports in the UK were up 20 per cent year-on-year compared to Q1 2024.
An overwhelming majority of consumers, three quarters (75 per cent) and 76 per cent, want tech companies to do more to prevent romance scammers on their platforms.
Men make up a greater share of total romance scam reports, accounting for 60 per cent in terms of volume and 57 per cent in terms of value of claims.
For romance scam victims aged 61 and over, the average loss increases to £19,000.
The top reasons romance scammers gave for needing money included fake emergencies (32 per cent), travel costs such as flights and visas (26 per cent), and medical bills and expenses (26 per cent).
The average amount lost to a romance scam in 2024 was £8,000. This is up from just under £5,800 in 2023.
When they realised what had happened, those targeted by a romance scam described feeling angry (36 per cent), embarrassed (25 per cent), and vulnerable (15 per cent).
Over a quarter (27 per cent) of romance scam victims said they were feeling lonely when the scammer contacted them.