Discover how to spot romance scams in the UK and recognize dating site red flags. Learn why you must protect your money from financial online predators.
Written 7th January 2025
Don't get scammed for love...
We all want love and companionship. It's part of our DNA and was needed in the past to ensure our survival. Socially isolated people can suffer a wealth of mental health issues compared to those with a good friend to turn to.
Above and beyond that, romantic love is the ultimate goal. A loyal companion, there through thick and thin. The closeness and intimacy that you can give and receive in no other way.
But, like everything in life, if people are looking for it, there is money to be made and there are unscrupulous people around who use that need to scam.
I've been using dating sites for years and I can't tell you how many dates I've had (I have a books worth of funny stories) but fortunately I've never got to meet a guy who has tried to solicit some money from me.
I have however dated and chatted to multiple people who have been scammed by people out of their hard earned money. It starts with 'I can't pay my phone bill this month and need £25 or we wont be able to carry on chatting'. If you pay up, then it's they need money for electricity or a train fare to meet you... just small amounts to start. If you paid that to them they know they can probably swindle more out of you. I met one guy who'd gave someone he'd met once £8k over a period of months and was having to borrow money himself to pay his own bills. Or one of my good male friends who hooked up with someone once, then lent them £3k because they needed something for their daughter or some other twaddle. Then they disappeared, not responding to contact, until after 6 months of asking and waiting for some monthly repayment of the loan they took them to small claims court and took out a CCJ. Only once that person started having trouble with their own finances because of the CCJ did they even get back in touch with my friend. Pleading to have it removed and promising to start making the repayments. Which didn't happen.
Don't be a sucker for love. Recognise that scammers pray on our need for love. To be the hero to them. To be wanted by someone.
Do you really want to be with someone that much that you think it's ok they can't afford to pay their phone bill? Or buy a train ticket? Are they really too good to be true? Why are they single then? Just because they have a Facebook profile, doesn't mean it's them. Or even a real person.
People are conniving. People are greedy. People are manipulative. Give people who ask for money from you a wide berth at the first opportunity, it's a huge red flag, run and find someone genuine. It can and does happen. Don't think with your genitals. Think with your brain. Run for the hills at the first sign of any financial request from someone you hardly know or have never met.
And just know that eventually you will meet someone wonderful. Someone genuine. Someone who loves you just for being you!!
Protecting your money from modern corporate marketing is one thing, but guarding it against emotional manipulators is the ultimate test of self-loyalty. If you want to learn how to keep a fierce, unshakeable guard over your future, join the Team Me Movement weekly email and let the Strict Witch keep you sharp today.