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OFT warns against Valentine's internet fraud crime

Published on 5 Feb 2010 under category: legal

Scammers are targeting dating site users, according to the trading standards body.

The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has warned individuals to be careful who they speak to, given the increasing rates of internet fraud crime.

Some of the tactics adopted by romance scammers are pretending to be stranded abroad, pretending a family member is dying or ill and building up sufficient trust to persuade victims to part with large sums.

As part of its Scam Awareness Month, titled Scamnesty, the OFT has highlighted how 3.2 million adults in the UK have fallen prey to scams in the past year - with five per cent of adults losing over £5,000.

In a recent case investigated by the Serious Organised Crime Agency, a British national was kidnapped after travelling to West Africa believing they would be met by someone with whom they had established an online friendship.

Heather Clayton, senior director of the Office of Fair Trading's Consumer group, said: "The internet is now an established way to meet and connect with new people, but those meeting on dating and other sites need to be on their guard against potential dating scams.

"All fraud is destructive but dating scammers are particularly ruthless as they abuse the emotional trust and attachments that people invest when looking to meet someone."

If you require advice on corporate fraud please call us on +44 (0) 20 7831 0101 and ask for Dan Hyde.