Romance scams can be very cruel. They play on people's emotions and vulnerabilities. Unfortunately, they're also very common, with Action Fraud reporting that $108 million was lost to romance scams in 2020 alone.
A romance scammer will build up trust by developing a convincing relationship with you, usually online. You may meet them on a dating site or on social media where they'll be lurking behind an apparently genuine profile.
Once the scammer has gained your trust, they'll start asking you to send money, vouchers or gifts. Scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated and will even find ways to get your personal details or passwords to access your bank account.
Follow these essential steps to stay safe
If you have lost money to APP fraud from your Barclays account, RecoverItBack could help you get your money back from your bank and you can fill in our fraud refund claim form for a free consultation.
Customers often ask if they can get money back if they paid by bank transfer, or if they can get money back if they pay by BACS. The answer is yes, victims of scams may be able to get their funds when they paid by either of these methods.