Fake love has no limits: Romance scams rise 24% as all age groups feel the impact
Published on: 25 September 2026 | 2 min read
- Number of romance scams increased 24% over the past year.
- Victims aged 18 to 24 saw the fastest increase in romance scams, rising 59%.
- Almost one in four victims (24%) were aged between 18 and 34.
- Victims aged 75 to 84 lost an average £9,051.
Romance scams are increasingly catching out younger adults, with reports from people aged 18 to 24 rising faster than any other age group over the last year, according to new data from Lloyds.
Overall, the number of romance scams increased 24% over the past year. Reports involving victims aged 18 to 24 increased 59%, while those involving victims aged 25 to 34 rose 39%.
Almost one in four (24%) romance scam victims were aged between 18 and 34. Younger victims report meeting scammers on dating apps such as Tinder and Hinge, as well as social media platforms TikTok and Snapchat.
However, older age groups still accounted for the largest proportion of total victims, with 19% aged 55 to 64 and a further 19% aged 65 to 74. Those aged over 50 are more likely to meet scammers on traditional dating websites such as Plenty of Fish and Match.com, as well as on Facebook and Instagram.
Liz Ziegler, Fraud Prevention Director at Lloyds, said
“Romance scammers don’t care how old someone is. They look for opportunities to build trust, create an emotional connection, then turn that relationship into a request for money.
“We speak to customers every day who believed they had found a genuine relationship, only to discover that the person they trusted was only interested in money. Victims can be left dealing not only with a financial loss, but also the distress of learning that the relationship and future they had imagined were never real.
“The rise in reports from younger adults shows anyone building friendships or relationships needs to recognise the warning signs. Many people assume younger adults are less likely to fall victim because they are confident online, but being digitally savvy does not make someone immune to fraud.
“If someone you've recently met starts asking for money, take a step back and speak to someone you trust. A genuine relationship should never depend on money."
Top tips from Liz to avoid a romance scam
Be suspicious if feelings develop very quickly. Romance scammers often use intense messages and declarations of love to create a strong emotional connection before asking for money.
Never send money to someone you don’t really know. Do not transfer money, buy gift cards, pay bills or make investments for someone you’ve met online, or recently met in person, regardless of how convincing or urgent their story appears.
Protect personal and financial information. Do not share banking details, passwords, copies of identity documents or intimate material.
Look out for red flags. Be cautious of changing circumstances, inconsistencies and excuses that don't stand up to scrutiny. Be cautious if their online profile seems newly created, contains limited information, or appears too good to be true.
Check whether their story adds up. Search online to see whether their details appear elsewhere and, if you're unsure, use a reverse image search on Google. This can show whether the photo appears elsewhere on the internet or is being used on another person's profile. Look for reports from others who may have raised concerns about the person.
Step back from urgency or guilt. Fraudsters often create pressure, emergencies or emotional ultimatums to encourage quick payments.
Talk to someone you trust. Tell a friend or family member about the relationship, particularly before sending money. An outside perspective can help identify pressure or inconsistencies that are harder to recognise when emotions are involved.
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