Valentine’s Day: Warning follows 18% rise in dating scams in Manchester

With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, the public is being urged to remain vigilant after newly released figures revealed an 18% rise in romance fraud cases across the Manchester area since 2022.

Figures obtained by Romance Scams Advice via Freedom of Information requests highlight a sharp increase in reports in Greater Manchester, reflecting a wider national trend that has seen UK losses from romance scams exceed £100 million.

Across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, 9,449 incidents of romance fraud were reported during the 2024/25 financial year alone.

However, as millions prepare to mark Valentine’s Day with cards, gifts and romantic gestures, data secured by Romance Scams Advice shows that dating scam figures in the area climbed from 252 reports to Greater Manchester Police in 2022/23, to 298 in 2024/25.

Overall, Greater Manchester Police recorded 859 romance fraud reports over the three-year period, representing an increase of 18.25%.

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.”

Dramatic increases across the UK

Despite the rise in reported cases, Manchester is far from the worst-affected area. Across the UK as a whole, reports to police forces increased by an average of 37.67%.

Greater London recorded the highest volume of cases, as reports to the Metropolitan Police rose from 1,140 in 2022/23 to 1,230 in 2024/25 – contributing to a shocking total of 3,491 reports across the three-year period.

Elsewhere, West Midlands Police logged 1,021 cases over the same timeframe, while Thames Valley Police recorded 945 reports.

Nottinghamshire saw the most dramatic rise, with cases surging from 101 in 2022/23 to 255 in 2024/25 – an extraordinary increase of 152%.

Despite being one of the UK’s smallest police forces, Warwickshire Police reported the second-largest rise, with cases climbing by a hair-raising 80% over the three-year period.

Meanwhile, Devon and Cornwall Police experienced a 56% increase in reports, rising from 242 cases in 2022/23 to 378 in 2024/25.
Despite being one of the UK’s smallest police forces, Warwickshire Police reported the second-largest rise, with cases climbing by a hair-raising 80% over the three-year period.

Meanwhile, Devon and Cornwall Police experienced a 56% increase in reports, rising from 242 cases in 2022/23 to 378 in 2024/25.

Some forces report decline in numbers

A small number of areas ran counter to the national trend. Northamptonshire recorded a 40% fall in reports, dropping from 201 cases per year to 119, while Gloucestershire saw a decrease of around 30%, from 165 in 2022/23 to 115 in 2024/25.

The lowest levels of risk were recorded in the offshore Crown Dependencies of Guernsey, Jersey and the Isle of Man, which together logged just 32 cases over the same period.

Elsewhere, some of the safest areas were found in the north of England, with 157 cases reported to Cleveland Police and 170 to Cumbria Police, alongside the Welsh county of Gwent, which recorded 194 cases.

More than £100m stolen by dating scammers in single year

Financial losses linked to romance scams have escalated significantly over the past three years. Victims lost £92.8 million in 2022/23, rising to £106m in 2024/25 – an increase of more than 14%.

Reported cases have followed a similar upward trend, increasing from 8,036 in 2022/23 to 8,903 in 2023/24, before reaching 9,449 in 2024/25 – the equivalent of around 13 additional cases every week.

Experts warn that these figures may only represent part of the problem, as many incidents go unreported due to embarrassment or a lack of awareness, suggesting the true scale of romance fraud is likely far greater.

Men increasingly at risk

The data also shows that men have increasingly been targeted. Reports from male-identifying victims grew by 7.5% over the three years, with 3,984 cases in 2022/23 rising to 4,296 in 2024/25.

However, reports from women – widely thought of as the most common victims of romance fraud – have remained relatively steady at around 3,500 per year. Meanwhile, cases where gender was not specified rose significantly, from 494 to 1,616 reports – an increase of more than 300%.

Gen Z and Gen X dominate case numbers

Members of Generation X are often considered to be savvy to cyber threats, while Gen Z has grown up in an increasingly online world – but it seems neither of the tech-literate age groups are immune to romance fraud, as together they cover the largest proportion of reports.

People aged 40–59 recorded the highest share of cases at 31.29%, while those aged 20–29 made up more than 17%.

By comparison, Millennials aged 30–39 represented 14.49% of reports, while individuals aged 70 and over represented 11.3%.

Vigilance needed to beat ‘devious’ scammers, says expert

Warning of the need to stay vigilant, Stuart Lythgoe of Romance Scams Advice 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.”