Gardaí Warn of Rising Romance Fraud as €7 Million Stolen in Ireland Over Five Years

Dublin, April 6 – Gardaí have issued a stark warning to the public following the revelation that over €7 million has been lost to romance fraud in Ireland over the past five years. The vast majority of victims were women, many of whom were deceived into parting with substantial sums of money under the guise of romantic relationships.

According to official figures, romance fraud cost Irish victims €1.5 million in 2023 alone — almost double the amount reported in 2022. Last year, officers investigated 70 individual cases, with the highest single loss involving a woman who was defrauded of €450,000 across 18 separate transactions. One male victim also reported losses amounting to €380,000.

Gardaí have expressed concern at the rising prevalence of such scams and are urging the public to exercise extreme caution when engaging with individuals met through online dating platforms or social media.

How the Scams Work

Romance fraud typically begins with criminals creating fake profiles using stolen photographs, often portraying individuals with reputable careers based in remote or high-risk locations. These fabricated personas may claim to be offshore oil workers, humanitarian doctors, aid workers, or military personnel stationed in conflict zones — all common narratives that make in-person meetings or video calls difficult.

Once contact is established, fraudsters swiftly encourage their targets to leave secure dating platforms and continue communication via messaging apps, email, or text. They often follow carefully crafted scripts designed to build emotional trust, portraying themselves as widowed or divorced individuals seeking companionship.

Requests for money typically begin with small, seemingly innocent amounts — which may even be repaid — to create an illusion of legitimacy. As trust builds, the demands increase, with victims being asked to cover alleged expenses such as medical bills, customs fees, or travel costs.

In some cases, fraudsters shift the scam toward bogus investment opportunities, frequently involving cryptocurrency. Victims are persuaded to invest, often under the belief that they will receive substantial returns, with the fraudster claiming to provide expert guidance in managing the transaction.

Victims Left in the Dark

“Most victims only become suspicious when they begin to question the whereabouts of their money,” a Garda spokesperson said. “By that time, the scammer has usually cut off all contact, blocked communication, and transferred the funds to overseas accounts or ‘cold wallets’ — secure cryptocurrency storage systems designed to be untraceable.”

Gardaí have reiterated that these criminals often target multiple individuals simultaneously, and use psychological manipulation to gain trust and exert pressure over time.

Public Advised to Stay Vigilant

To help protect against romance fraud, Gardaí have issued the following safety recommendations:

• Use reputable dating sites and keep communication within the platform’s messaging system for as long as possible.

• Be cautious of individuals who quickly seek to move conversations to private messaging apps.

• Perform a reverse image search of profile pictures to check if they appear elsewhere online.

• Be wary of anyone who requests money, regardless of the reason.

• Avoid sharing personal or financial information with individuals you have never met in person.

Gardaí continue to investigate these crimes and are appealing to anyone who believes they may have been targeted to report the incident to local authorities.