Bank highlights common jobs and excuses to need money spent in romantic fraud

A jump in reports of over 55s associated with romance fraud has been registered by a larger bank as it revealed the most common jobs these criminals claim to make, and the most likely excuses they make for pressing in need of cash.

Lloyds recorded an increase of 52% in romance fraud among the victims over 55 years in the past year compared to the previous year.

Its analysis was based on fraud reported by Lloyds Banking Group customers that include the brands Halifax and Bank of Scotland as well as Lloyds.

It compared romance-fidus reports in the 12 months to July 2025 with scam reports made during the previous 12-month period.

Lloyds said that 55 to 64-year-olds are the most targeted age group, which makes up a fifth (20%) of romantic fraud victims, followed by those aged 65 to 74, which make up 18% of cases, according to its data.

Alongside the jump in reports involving over 55s, Lloyds has also seen a 20% annual increase in cases involving victims aged 35 to 44.

Victims aged 75 to 84 losing most on average for romance fraud to £ 8,068, Lloyds said. The average loss across all age groups is £ 5,219.

Romantic fraudsters will often claim to perform certain jobs to give an excuse for why they can be difficult to contact or cannot meet in person.

According to Lloyds’ data, the most common occupations are required by romantic scammers:

– Military staff. Scammers often claim to be soldiers, perhaps stationed abroad or in conflict zones.

– Oil Rig workers. This apology is often used by scammers, both male and female as they claim make communication difficult, Lloyds said.

– Other ordinary professions that scammers claim to have are business owners, engineers and doctors who often claim to work abroad in conflict zones or on humanitarian missions.

And the most common excuses used by romantic scammers to need money are according to Lloyds’ data:

– Medical emergency situations. Scammers sometimes either claim that they or a family member need urgent medical treatment, such as after a car accident.

– Travel and living costs. Criminals may request money for flights or travel expenses to visit the victim. Or they can ask for help with rent, food or other daily expenses.

– Other reasons they may use to need money includes legal fees that make taxes or customs payments or business problems.

Scammers will often ask victims to send money to them through bank transfer, but other tactics include asking the victim to buy online gift cards and send them instead. These are easy for the scammer to sell and earn, Lloyds said.

In one case highlighted by Lloyds, an 80-year-old woman met someone online through a word game.

The person claimed his son was working on an oil rig near Germany.

Then he claimed that his son was in a car accident and was dead and that he had to work on the oil rig to finish the job instead of his son.

Then he claimed he had been arrested during the trip and needed to pay a tax bill and the women agreed to send £ 11,000.

She later spoke with the bank and was told she had been scammed.

In another case, an 86-year-old man met a woman on a single site and they started texting. She claimed she had a bad line for phone and video calls.

Within a few weeks after chatting, she asked for help with money and claimed she was traveling to Australia to pick up some gold she had inherited.

He sent her money to cover travel expenses for her to visit him, but she couldn’t show up. He finished contact and realized he had been scammed. He had lost £ 2,260.

Liz Ziegler, director of fraud prevention, Lloyds said: “Our specialized fraud prevention teams work hard to protect and protect customers from fraud, and romance fraud are some of the cruel cases they are dealing with.

“By taking advantage of people looking for love and camaraderie, scammers play with the victims’ feelings when they could be on their most vulnerable.

“While they may be convincing, it is easy to spot some of the most obvious mistakes that these scammers can make. Always take a step back and ask yourself if they tell you, sounds credible.

“Never send in any circumstances money to someone you’ve met online. No good relationship starts this way and there aren’t many valid reasons in 2025, why someone can’t talk to you on the phone.

“If you have an elderly person in your life who is active online, make sure you train them as best you can at the risks and signs of potential scammers who want to take advantage of them.”

Detective superintendent Oliver Little, from the main force Operations Room in the City of London Police said: “Romantic winners are very manipulative and often operate with the cooling of precision, forces victims through emotional control, false urgent and detailed lies.”

He added: “If you’ve met someone online, stay within the app’s messaging platform, be wary of requests for money and talk to friends or family before making decisions.

“Criminals will try to isolate you – don’t give them the opportunity. Remember if you haven’t met them in person, you won’t owe them anything.”

Lloyds has highlighted some romantic scam -red flags to look after:

1. Simutters often recognize love very quickly. Be careful with strangers who contact you on social media and ask yourself if their intentions are genuine.

2nd criminals often make excuses to avoid video calls or personal meetings. Be careful with someone who has endless excuses for why they can’t meet in person.

3rd scammers ask for money for different emergencies or expenses. Lloyds said people should avoid transferring money to a stranger, especially one they have never met in real life.

4. Criminals can go “off script” and be inconsistent in their stories. If you suspect someone you are talking to online, no matter how personal it can feel, talk to someone you trust in your daily life to get an outside point of view, Lloyds suggests.

5. scammers will often try to manipulate their victims by pouring pressure with a feeling of urgent nature or trying to make the victims feel guilty. If you feel under pressure, take a step back and question their intentions.