Romance scams

Lesson 8 of 14 in our free Scams & Fraud guide: a 5-minute money game with the key points below.

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The story so far

Mo: I've been talking to someone amazing for six weeks. They're a surgeon working abroad. We've never video called but it's DEEP.
Mo: Now they need money for a flight to see me. Only £300.
Nana: Oh, sweetheart. Someone you've never seen, asking for money? That's the oldest trick there is. Talk to someone you trust before sending anything.

Romance scammers often escalate. If requests go £300, then £600, then double each time, how much is sent after 5 requests?

£300 + £600 + £1,200 + £2,400 + £4,800 = £9,300. Each 'just one more' makes it harder to stop. That's why the first 'no' matters.

Red flag: “My camera is broken so I can't video call yet.” — Always an excuse to avoid video.
Red flag: “My bank account is frozen while I'm at the field hospital,” — Stuck abroad with a money problem — classic setup.
Red flag: “could you lend me £300 for my flight to see you?” — First small money request.
Red flag: “Please don't tell your friends, they wouldn't understand us.” — Isolating you from people who'd spot it.
Fact: “Scammers use photos stolen from real people's profiles.” — A reverse image search can sometimes reveal it.
Myth: “If they've never asked for money in six weeks, they can't be a scammer.” — Long-game scams spend weeks building trust before the first ask.
Myth: “People who get romance-scammed should feel embarrassed and keep quiet.” — It's a crime done TO them. Talking about it helps — and it can be really upsetting, so reach out for support.