Ways you can avoid ‘Tinder Swindler’-type criminals on Valentine’s Day

The worst date you can imagine might be an evening of boring conversation or bad breath – but for some, it can end in them losing tens of thousands of pounds.

Many people across Tayside and Fife may head to dating websites on Valentine’s Day in the hope of finding love, but advice groups have issued a warning about the risk of romance cons.

Increasing numbers are being targeted online by fraudsters who pose as singles on dating apps and websites.

The con was highlighted in a recent Netflix documentary, Tinder Swindler, and now Scots have been told to be on the lookout for warning signs that they are being scammed.

Romance fraud crimes in Scotland in the year leading up to October 2021 cost victims more than £990,000 – while across the UK they lost £91.9 million.

Of the cases reported between November 2020 and October 2021, more than half involved victims who were women.

Meanwhile, those aged 50-59 were most likely to be targeted, while the 30-39 age group came second.

Advice Direct Scotland (ADS), which runs the national consumer advice service consumeradvice. scot, is launching a new campaign to understand the tactics used by scammers to exploit situations of loneliness or isolation of their targets.

ADS said romance and companionship scams, which can occur on dating sites and social media, rely on psychological “buy-in” and play on the emotions of the person being tricked.

The fraudster will normally form an online relationship with their victim, building up the relationship and trust over a period of time.

According to Police Scotland, once the relationship has been established the fraudster will then mention a sudden crisis and ask for their victim to send money.

Other scammers might resort to methods like blackmail, using pictures or information about the victim to extort money.

There is also ‘love bombing’ where fraudsters might use cliches and overthe-top flattery to gain your trust.

Fraudsters might find excuses not to meet up in person, or try to keep communications in writing rather than using video calls, so that they do not reveal their real identity. If someone threatens you, do not pay. Save your communications and contact the police

And beware unverified profiles. Tinder, one of the most popular dating apps, has a function that allows users to verify that the pictures on their profile match their real identity

If someone asks for money then alarm bells should be ringing, especially if they offer something that sounds too good to be true.