Romance Scam Reports Increase in Devon and Cornwall Ahead of Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day Alert as Romance Fraud Soars 56% in Devon and Cornwall

With Valentine’s Day approaching, people across Devon and Cornwall are being urged to stay alert after new figures revealed a sharp rise in romance fraud in the region.

Data obtained by Romance Scams Advice through Freedom of Information requests shows reports of romance scams in Devon and Cornwall have increased by 56% since 2022.

Across the UK, dating scammers have stolen more than £100 million over the same period, with police forces recording 9,449 romance fraud offences during the 2024/25 financial year alone.

Sharp rise in Devon and Cornwall

Figures show reports to Devon and Cornwall Police rose from 242 cases in 2022/23 to 378 in 2024/25.

Over the past three years, the force logged a total of 881 romance fraud incidents, representing an overall increase of 56.2%.

Stuart Lythgoe, a fraud recovery specialist at Romance Scams Advice, said:
“These shocking figures underline the growing importance of tackling romance fraud. Scammers prey on the trust of vulnerable people, and with huge sums of money often at stake, the results can be psychologically damaging as well as financially harmful.”

📷Copyright: Romance Scams Advice

How the region compares nationally

While romance fraud is rising across the UK, the increase seen in Devon and Cornwall is well above the national average. Police forces across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland recorded an average rise of 37.67% over the same period.

Greater London recorded the highest overall number of cases, with reports to the Metropolitan Police increasing from 1,140 in 2022/23 to 1,230 in 2024/25, totalling 3,491 incidents over three years.

Other forces with high numbers included West Midlands Police with 1,021 cases and Thames Valley Police with 945.

Nottinghamshire saw the steepest rise, with reports climbing from 101 cases in 2022/23 to 255 in 2024/25, an increase of 152%. Despite being one of the UK’s smallest forces, Warwickshire Police recorded the second-highest increase at 80%.

Declines in some areas

Not all areas saw an increase. Northamptonshire recorded the biggest fall, with cases dropping by 40% from 201 to 119. Gloucestershire also saw a reduction of around 30%, with reports falling from 165 to 115 over the same period.

The lowest numbers were recorded in the Crown Dependencies of Guernsey, Jersey and the Isle of Man, which together logged just 32 cases across three years. Lower figures were also reported in Cleveland with 157 cases and Cumbria with 170. In Wales, Gwent recorded 194 reports.

Losses pass £100 million

Financial losses linked to romance fraud have continued to climb. UK victims lost £92.8 million in 2022/23, rising to £106 million by 2024/25, an increase of more than 14%.

Report volumes followed a similar trend, increasing from 8,036 cases in 2022/23 to 9,449 in 2024/25. This equates to an average rise of around 13 additional cases every week.

Experts believe the true scale of the issue is likely much higher, as many victims do not report incidents due to embarrassment or lack of awareness.

📷Copyright: Romance Scams Advice

Men increasingly targeted

The data also highlights a growing impact on men. Reports from male-identifying victims rose by 7.5% over three years, increasing from 3,984 cases in 2022/23 to 4,296 in 2024/25.

Reports from women remained broadly stable at around 3,500 per year. However, cases where gender was not disclosed rose sharply, from 494 to 1,616, an increase of more than 300%.

Gen X and Gen Z most affected

Romance fraud continues to affect a wide range of age groups. People aged 40 to 59 accounted for the largest share of reports at 31.29%, followed by those aged 20 to 29 at more than 17%.

Those aged 30 to 39 made up 14.49% of reports, while people aged 70 and over accounted for 11.3%, highlighting the need for vigilance across all ages.

Warning ahead of Valentine’s Day

Stuart added:
“It can be a complex crime, with financial services facing many challenges in eliminating risk, so it’s important that we all remain vigilant to avoid being deceived by these skilled and devious manipulators.

“People should always be wary when sending money, particularly to anyone asking for money who they have never met, as the risk of fraud is increased dramatically.

“While tighter controls are needed to identify red flags and prevent romance fraud, seeking to recover your lost money is also an important step in ensuring accountability for the perpetrators while ensuring justice for affected individuals.”