"The victims were both male and female and from all age groups."
An Garda Síochána have issued a warning to the public in the run up the Valentine's Day, regarding an increase in what they call "romance fraud".
They state that over 200 incidents were recording across 2020, affecting both male and female victims, with the average amount of money lost being in excess of €20,000.
In their statement, An Garda Síochána said:
"The Covid-19 Regulations and travel restrictions have resulted in reduced social gatherings and as a result is generating opportunities for fraudsters to engage in online Romance Fraud.
This particular fraud is enabled via online dating sites or other social media by fraudsters who will provide the victims with well-prepared stories designed to deceive. The victims develop online relationships with the fraudsters, who use fake identities, photographs and life stories.
"Inevitably, the fraudster will ask their victim for money. The fraudster will continue to ask for money until the victim has no more money to give or realise they are being deceived. This crime often leaves vulnerable people with a feeling of hurt and mistrust in addition to their financial loss. In some recent cases we have seen the criminals targeting people with learning difficulties."
"In one recent case an Irish victim developed a relationship with a female from the United States of America on a dating website. Over a period of months, for spurious reasons she asked him for money and in total the victim suffered a loss of over €21,000 (over 5 separate transactions)."
Detective Chief Superintendent Pat Lordan of the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau has the following advice for the public:
• STOP AND THINK! ASK YOURSELF, IS THIS PERSON REAL? - If you are asked for money by a person with whom you are in an on-line relationship
• NEVER share personal or banking details with unknown persons online.
• NEVER receive money from, or send money to persons unknown.
• THINK twice before using a webcam (intimate images can be used for blackmail).
• TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS – if it sounds like it is too good to be true, it is probably not true.
• If IN DOUBT, talk to a family member or a friend.
• If you have been the victim of this type of crime, please report it in confidence to your local Garda station.
• If you a guardian or friend to someone with intellectual difficulties be alert to the dangers of romance fraud.
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