Romance scams are continuing to rise across the UK, with more than 900 cases reported in the Thames Valley over the past three years, according to new figures obtained by Romance Scams Advice.
The data, gathered through Freedom of Information requests to police forces, shows that reports of romance fraud in the Thames Valley increased from 306 cases in 2022/23 to 325 in 2024/25, bringing the total to 940 cases over the three-year period.
Nationally, police in England, Wales and Northern Ireland recorded 9,449 reports of romance fraud during the 2024/25 financial year. Losses linked to dating scams are estimated to have exceeded £100m over the same period.
Figures suggest the amount stolen has risen sharply in recent years. Victims lost £92.8m in 2022/23, compared with £106m in 2024/25 — an increase of more than 14%. The number of reported cases has also risen steadily, from just over 8,000 in 2022/23 to nearly 9,500 last year.
Despite the rise, Thames Valley is not among the worst affected areas. Across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, reports to police forces increased by an average of nearly 38% over the three-year period.
Greater London recorded the highest number of reports, with 1,230 cases logged in 2024/25 and a total of 3,491 over three years. Nottinghamshire saw the steepest increase, with reports rising by 152% from 101 cases in 2022/23 to 255 in 2024/25.
Other areas experiencing large rises included Warwickshire, where reports increased by 80%, and Devon and Cornwall, which saw a 56% rise over the same period.
Some police forces reported fewer cases. Northamptonshire recorded a fall of 40%, while Gloucestershire saw a 30% decrease. The lowest numbers were reported in the Crown Dependencies of Guernsey, Jersey and the Isle of Man, which together recorded 32 cases over three years.
The figures also show a change in the profile of victims. Reports made by men increased by 7.5% annually over the period, rising from 3,984 cases in 2022/23 to 4,296 in 2024/25. Reports by women remained relatively stable at around 3,500 a year.
There was also a sharp increase in reports from people who did not specify their gender, rising from 494 cases to 1,616 — an increase of more than 300%.
In terms of age, people aged between 40 and 59 accounted for the largest proportion of reports, at just over 31%. Those aged 20 to 29 made up more than 17% of cases, while people aged 70 and over accounted for around 11%.
Romance Scams Advice has warned that the true scale of the problem may be higher, as some victims do not report scams due to embarrassment or because they are unaware they are being targeted.
Stuart Lythgoe, a fraud recovery specialist at the organisation, said romance fraud can cause serious emotional and financial harm.
“These figures highlight the need for greater awareness,” he said. “People should be cautious about sending money to anyone they have not met in person, particularly when requests are made urgently or involve secrecy.”
Police and fraud experts continue to advise people using dating platforms to be alert to warning signs and to report suspected scams as early as possible.
