Nearly two fifths (38 per cent) of individuals have been requested for cash from somebody they met on relationship app prior to now yr.
The findings, by the commerce affiliation UK Finance and the On-line Relationship Affiliation, have been launched as a part of a brand new marketing campaign warning individuals of romance scammers this Valentine’s Day.
A survey of two,300 individuals throughout the UK discovered that 57 per cent of those that had been requested to offer or lend cash to somebody they met on-line had agreed to take action.
The common money request was for £345, though 6 per cent requested for a sum upwards of £1,000.
The most typical causes given for requesting money included paying for an emergency, overlaying journey prices or to make an funding.
“Don’t let or not it’s cash at first sight this Valentine’s Day. If you happen to’re ever requested for money from somebody you’ve by no means met in particular person then alarm bells ought to begin ringing – it might be a rip-off,” Katy Worobec, managing director of financial crime at UK Finance, stated.
In response to a separate survey by the On-line Relationship Affiliation, 58 per cent of individuals on relationship apps stated they’d proceed speaking to somebody who was reluctant to fulfill in particular person or speak by way of video chat.
The affiliation stated it is a widespread pink flag and will point out that the particular person shouldn’t be who they declare to be.
Dr Hannah Shimko, from the On-line Relationship Affiliation, commented: “On-line daters ought to concentrate on the actions fraudsters will use to govern them into parting with their cash.
“This Valentine’s Day, take the time to consider the particular person behind the profile, get to know your date, and don’t ship cash to somebody you’ve solely met on-line.”
There was elevated dialogue round romance scams this week following the discharge of Netflix’s widespread documentary The Tinder Swindler, which follows the accounts of three ladies who have been conned out of enormous sums of cash by a person they met on-line.
In response to monetary steering supplier Cash Helper, scammers are drawn to relationship websites as a result of they know individuals on there need to make private connections, and so they can use this want for closeness to their benefit.
Specialists have highlighted a number of tell-tale indicators to search for to determine fraudsters on relationship apps, and learn how to keep away from falling sufferer to a romance rip-off.
This consists of checking your potential date’s digital footprint, being cautious of people that attempt to transfer the dialog off the relationship app too quickly, and usually being cautious of anybody who asks you to ship them cash on-line.
Kaynak: briturkish.com