TL;DR: The PSNI said on February 11, 2026 that 100 romance scam reports from April 2025 to the start of February 2026 cost victims £866,700 in Northern Ireland. One victim lost over £40,000 through transfers and gift-card codes, and another about £15,000 after the scammer moved the chat off a dating site.
What PSNI reported
The Police Service of Northern Ireland said, in a Valentine's warning, that Chief Inspector Boyd put the loss at £866,700 across 100 romance scam reports between April 2025 and the start of February 2026, about ten months.
Two cases
- Over £40,000: the victim met the fraudster online. The relationship developed over time and the victim was persuaded to send money several times, by direct transfer or by buying gift cards and sending the codes.
- About £15,000: the victim met the fraudster on a dating site. After a couple of months, the scammer moved the conversation off the site and convinced the victim to send money on three occasions.
How these scams work
PSNI says fraudsters build a relationship quickly, move conversations to text or chat away from the dating platform and invent emotional stories to win trust and elicit payments. Moving off the platform matters because the dating app's safety tools no longer apply. Our guide to dating app romance scams shows what to check before you switch apps.
Police advice
- Research the person's social media and check name, location and family details match their story.
- Use reverse image searches to see whether profile photos appear elsewhere.
- Never send money to someone you have not met in person.
- Victims should not feel ashamed; fraud affects all genders, sexualities, ages and backgrounds.
If you have been scammed, report to police on 101, contact your bank, and report to Report Fraud on 0300 123 2040. More help is at nidirect.gov.uk/scamwiseni. See gift card scam recovery if you bought cards. Try our free email exposure check too.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much was lost in Northern Ireland?
£866,700 across 100 romance scam reports between April 2025 and the start of February 2026.
How were victims asked to pay?
By direct transfer or by buying gift cards and sending on the codes.
Why do scammers move off the dating site?
To get away from the platform's safety tools and keep the conversation private, according to the PSNI description.
Where can I get help in Northern Ireland?
Report to police on 101, your bank, Report Fraud, and see nidirect.gov.uk/scamwiseni.
Sources
- PSNI: More than £850k lost to romance fraud over 10 months in Northern Ireland (Feb 11, 2026)
- Report Fraud (UK national fraud reporting service)