The government’s new anti-fraud champion, Conservative MP Simon Fell, has called for greater support for victims of romance scams from police forces and social media companies. Speaking to the BBC, Fell emphasized the trauma suffered by those who fall prey to romance fraud, which involves criminals conning people into believing they are in a genuine relationship before extracting money from them. Last year, the UK’s National Fraud Intelligence Bureau received over 8,000 reports of romance fraud.
Romance fraud is particularly prevalent during the festive period, according to Fell. “Lots of people go online looking for friendship and romance at the same time. And what we know about fraudsters is they will pick people when they’re at their most vulnerable…so this is the time of year where they can really reap the unfortunate benefits of people turning online, looking for love and friendship,” he said.
Fell also noted a lack of consistency in police responses to fraud. “You basically want to know that whoever you go to, that crime is going to be reported, it’s going to be taken seriously, it’s going to be investigated, and you will be supported through that journey,” he said. Last month, MPs heard evidence from victims of romance scams, including Cecilie Fjellhøy, who was defrauded of over £200,000 by a man she met via Tinder.
Social media companies also have a responsibility to combat romance fraud, which is often facilitated by dating apps and other platforms, according to Fell. Last month, 12 major tech companies, including Facebook, Instagram, and Match Group, signed a voluntary agreement with the UK government to work to reduce fraud on their platforms. Measures include allowing users to choose to interact only with people who have verified their identity.
However, Wayne Stevens from charity Victim Support said more resources were needed to tackle the issue. “Romance fraud is seriously under-reported because of the shame, embarrassment, and fear people experience,” he said. Fellow MP Dame Diana Johnson, chair of the Home Affairs Committee, called on financial services, social media companies, and the criminal justice system to do more to support victims and prevent perpetrators from operating unchecked
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