Good afternoon,

Valentine's Day is fast approaching and maybe your thoughts are turning to love? Lots of people do find their "significant other" online - but it's also a hotbed for fraud.  

Romance Fraud often involves a loss of large sums of money, a huge emotional impact, and involvement in Money Laundering and extortion, including this local victim who has bravely shared their story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3uDrNG_SAc 

We are grateful for the work of Dr Elizabeth Carter who has conducted extensive research into this type of crime and has shared her findings in the attached practical guide produced by our colleagues in Thames Valley Police.

If this isn't relevant to you, please share it with someone who might be interested.

If you've been affected by a crime please contact Victim Care Hub for free, confidential support: Home - Hampshire Victim Care Hub (hampshireiowvictimcare.co.uk) or phone 0808 178 1641

If you would like to report a crime anonymously please contact: Independent UK charity taking crime information anonymously | Crimestoppers (crimestoppers-uk.org) or phone 0800 555 111

Hampshire Alerts is not a crime reporting portal – please do not report crime here.

If you realise you’ve been scammed and wish to report a fraud that has already happened, please report it to Action Fraud either phone 0300 123 2040 or online at: Action Fraud

If a crime is in progress, and/or you are in fear for yourself or someone else, and/or there is evidence in situ that could be damaged/destroyed, please phone 999 immediately. 

Otherwise, report online, or find out about other ways to report a crime at: Report a crime | Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary

Thank you – Fraud Safeguarding Team