Singletons looking for love this Valentine's Day are being warned of a new romance scam. The Insurance Fraud Bureau (IFB) has revealed romance scammers have evolved their tactics to now pressure victims into making fake insurance claims so they can receive compensation.

What is the scam?

The latest scam in the dating market is a slippery one! It's evolved beyond those looking for love being asked to transfer money to someone they meet online. It sees scammers asking their victims to take out fraudulent insurance policies and then persuading them to make fake claims and then banking the insurance payout themselves. This often starts with small claims and then increases over time. The cruel fraudsters are known to become increasingly forceful, often coercing their victims to go along with the scam.

Victims find themselves stuck in a criminal funding cycle, often not realising the extent of trouble they are in. Whilst not paying out of their own pocket may seem less risky, insurance fraud is serious and can lead to convictions, jail time, job loss and even being left unable to drive.

In one instance, officers from the City of London Police’s Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department (IFED) cautioned four women who made fraudulent claims after they were approached by a man on various dating apps. A man gave a voluntary police interview as part of the investigation, which is ongoing.

Committing insurance fraud is a serious criminal offence and even if you avoid prosecution, you are likely to be added to the Insurance Fraud Register (IFR) for five years. The IFR is a database of known insurance fraudsters, which is checked by insurers when you take out a new policy. They have the option to increase your premiums to account for the added risk of providing you with insurance or can opt to not provide coverage at all. You could be left unable to drive, lose your job or struggle to find work.

Shelley Comb, Intelligence & Investigations Manager, IFB added: “It’s easy to get caught up in a new relationship, but not everyone is who they seem. Being convicted of insurance fraud can have life changing consequences; don’t risk it all to line someone’s pocket.”

From existing investigations, this type of fraud is often seen to be intertwined with other, often more serious crimes. From organised crime to drug dealing, these fraudsters can be very dangerous.

If you or a loved one has encountered this type of scam, you can report this to IFB’s confidential CheatLine either online or by phone 0800 422 0421.

Top tips to stay safe:
1. Be wary of anyone asking you to do something you aren’t comfortable with.
2. Trust your gut. If it doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t.
3. Report dating app users if they ask you to do anything illegal. You can report this in app, and send screenshots to the police, Action Fraud, or CheatLine depending on the crime.
4. Contact the police immediately if you are being coerced or blackmailed by a scammer.
5. If the person you are speaking to needs your help urgently, offer to contact the emergency services. If they decline this is a red flag and you should be wary of continuing conversations with them.