Lloyds Banking Group has recorded a 52% rise in romance scam reports among people aged over 55 in the past year compared with the year before. The bank’s analysis comes from cases reported by customers of Lloyds, Halifax and Bank of Scotland, covering the 12 months to July 2025. Those aged 55 to 64 remain the most affected, making up about 20% of cases, with 65 to 74-year-olds at 18%; there has also been a 20% rise in scams targeting those aged 35 to 44.

Scammers often claim specific occupations to justify limited contact or the need to avoid in-person meetings. The most frequently cited roles are military personnel, oil rig workers, along with business owners, engineers and doctors who say they are overseas on assignments. They also offer various reasons for needing money, such as medical emergencies, travel or living costs, and legal or tax fees. Payments are usually requested by bank transfer, though online gift cards are also used.

Two cases cited by Lloyds illustrate how the scams unfold. An 80-year-old woman who met someone online was told his son worked on an oil rig near Germany and later died in a car accident, after which she sent £11,000. In another case, an 86-year-old man was asked to cover travel costs for a supposed trip to Australia to retrieve inherited gold, and he transferred £2,260. Liz Ziegler, Lloyds’ fraud prevention director, said: “Never in any circumstances send money to someone you’ve met online.” Detective Superintendent Oliver Little of City of London Police said romance fraudsters are highly manipulative and often operate with chilling precision, and advised staying within the app’s messaging platform and consulting friends before deciding. Lloyds also highlighted red flags to watch for, including fast declarations of love, avoidance of video calls, requests for money, inconsistent stories and high-pressure tactics.