TL;DR: Staffordshire Police warned on January 30, 2026 about three recent romance fraud reports, including a man who believed he was in a relationship with a woman he met online. She asked him to invest in cryptocurrency and promised an £800,000 return once she moved to the UK. He started with £2,000 and has lost roughly £300,000.
What happened
Staffordshire Police issued a Valentine's Day warning after three recent romance fraud reports from male and female victims. The force notes that more than £100 million is lost to romance fraud in the UK every year.
The three cases
- Crypto “girlfriend”: a man met a woman online and believed they were in a relationship. She asked him to invest in cryptocurrency and promised an £800,000 return once she moved to the UK. He first sent £2,000 and has lost in the region of £300,000 in total.
- Soldier abroad: a woman met a man via social media who claimed to be a soldier abroad. She sent thousands of pounds in anticipation of his arrival and is now in debt from loans she took out to pay him.
- Fake celebrity: a woman sent £5,000 in cash to a man she believed was a well-known celebrity, supposedly for a flight to the UK. He never arrived.
What police say
Simon Street, the force's fraud protect and prepare coordinator, said scammers build trust over time and use increasingly elaborate excuses for why they never meet in person, and urged people to report scams so police can investigate. Warning signs listed include pushing you to move off the dating site to instant messaging, asking many questions while sharing little about themselves, claiming to be military personnel overseas, citing medical emergencies, and arranging a visit but asking you to pay the travel costs.
Never do these
- Send money or take out a loan for someone you met online.
- Give access to your bank account or transfer money on their behalf.
- Invest your own money on their behalf.
- Share passport or driving licence copies.
- Buy gift cards and send the codes, or receive and forward parcels for them.
Read how crypto scam recovery really works, and see our romance scam red flags and gift card scam recovery guides. Report to Report Fraud or 101. Run our free email exposure check to see what scammers can find.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did the Staffordshire man lose?
Roughly £300,000, starting with an initial £2,000 sent to an online girlfriend's crypto scheme.
What return was he promised?
£800,000 once the woman moved to the UK.
What are the other two cases?
A woman who sent thousands to a fake soldier and is in debt, and a woman who sent £5,000 cash to a fake celebrity.
How do I report a romance scam in Staffordshire?
Call 101, use Livechat on the force website, or report to Report Fraud.
Sources
- Staffordshire Police: Officers urge caution after recent romance scams ahead of Valentine's Day (Jan 30, 2026)
- Report Fraud (UK national fraud reporting service)