IF YOU haven't met your lover, they could be a scammer.

That's the latest warning from Thames Valley Police which has urged people to 'use their head' stop sending money and gift cards to people they haven't met in real life.

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In the latest appeal, the force said: "Does the person you're speaking to online claim they live abroad or constantly make excuses why they can't meet in person? 

"They may not be who they say they are." 

The signs something could be wrong: 

  • Somebody declares their love for you quite quickly, they may even talk about marriage or other milestones like buying a house together. 
  • They claim to be overseas because they work in the military or medical profession or they are carrying out important work. They claim a big step in your relationship will be returning to the UK to be with you. 
  • They will say your relationship is private and insist you don't discuss anything with family or friends.
  • They will ask for financial help at a time of 'critical emergency'. The reason will be emotive and something that pulls your heartstrings.

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If you're online dating, do not:

  • Send them any money
  • buy gift cards and send them codes from Amazon or iTunes
  • transfer money on their behalf
  • take a loan out for them 
  • provide copies of your personal documents like passports or driving licenses 
  • give them access to your bank account
  • invest your own money on their behalf or on their advice 
  • Agree to recieve or send parcels on behalf of them like laptops, mobile phones etc 

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Action Fraud urged people to 'swipe left on romance fraud' after more than £66million was lost between August 2019 and 2020.