Urgent warning after pensioner loses £4,000 in ‘cruel’ friendship scam
Elderly and vulnerable individuals are increasingly falling victim to a wave of “cruel” online “friendship scams”, a leading bank has warned.
TSB highlighted how criminals take advantage of people’s loneliness and desire for connection to make money.
While most victims make only a single payment, some cases reveal a much longer-lasting and devastating impact.
One example analyzed by the bank involved a customer in his late sixties who made 60 payments over four years.
A scammer posing as a teenager needing financial help to escape an abusive family befriended them on a message board; this relationship lasted four years before it was reported.
Another victim, a customer in his late seventies, lost more than £4,000 after making a connection on social media.
After making friends, the scammer claimed to be sick and in need of urgent medical bills. The unsuspecting customer exposed the scam by sending multiple payments and gift cards before communication was lost.
A third scenario saw a customer in his seventies develop trust with a new contact, but the scammer resorted to emotional blackmail and threatened to end communication unless gift cards and payments were sent.
The TSB said its data showed the average loss per case of impersonation fraud, which includes any fraud where fraudsters pretend to be a person or organisation, is more than £3,100.
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Steph Harrison, fraud expert at TSB, said: “Fraudsters are targeting the life savings of elderly and vulnerable people, taking advantage of their goodwill and desire for companionship and companionship with the promise of cruel and fake online companionship.
“We can all help by checking in on your friends and family, and for those looking for online friendship, be careful, especially if there is money involved – because you don’t know who you are actually talking to.”
How to avoid dating fraud
Here are some suggestions from Ms. Harrison to avoid dating scams:
- Online platforms can be a great way to meet people with similar interests and form friendships, but remain skeptical and don’t give personal information or money to someone whose authenticity you can’t verify.
- With the use of AI (artificial intelligence), scammers can now be even more convincing with authentic-looking images produced by AI.
- Discussing friendships and online communication can be difficult, but being open when possible can make all the difference when it comes to scams. Get friendly, unbiased advice about your online connection from someone near you; this person can help you spot holes in someone’s story that you may not have considered.
- People should also check their friends and family members, especially those who may be vulnerable, to see who they are talking to online and whether it is a scam.
- Scammers make up elaborate and emotional stories to demand money. Be wary of such requests; If the conversation turns to money, it’s time to stop. No matter how friendly the person appears online, it could all be false and a cruel ploy to get your money.
Caroline Abrahams, charity director at Age UK, said: “So-called dating scams are a particularly scary and insidious form of fraud and it’s good to see it highlighted in this way to help keep us all on our toes.
“Lonely or bereaved older people are particularly vulnerable to being targeted as criminals seek to separate them from their money by exploiting their isolation and longing for companionship.
“Being defrauded in this way can have devastating consequences, with victims suffering catastrophic losses, destroying not only their finances but also their health, well-being and capacity to trust other people.
“Age UK is working with older people across the county to protect them from fraud.”
Which? Lisa Webb, consumer law expert at , said: “This is a particularly vicious scam targeting older people who live alone and need human connection.
“Scammers often try to pressure people by claiming they need money to deal with an emergency.
“If your relationship with this person is rapidly escalating and they are making excuses for not having a face-to-face or video call, be careful.
“If you think you have lost money to a dating scammer, contact your bank immediately and Report Scam or report it to Police Scotland.
“Dating scams can cause serious damage to your mental health and you may find it helpful to talk to someone like Mental or Victim Support about what you’re experiencing.”
