Gardaí warn women of sour romance that has cost victims millions of euros

Gardaí have warned the public of red-flags that are typical of romance scams

Crime Prevention Officer Deirdre O’Neill has warned the public that “romance frauds have increased significantly”,

Reportedly, €2.8 million euro has been conned out of Irish media users through romance scams in 2025 - with the real figure likely much higher.

Gardaí have warned the public of red-flags that are typical of romance scams. Sergeant O’Neill told the Leader: “Romance fraudsters often attempt to move the relationship along at a quick pace, seek lots of personal information, and send multiple messages daily and then nothing for a period.”

According to the sergeant, a significant number of reported victims of romance fraud are women.

To protect against romance scams it is advised to never send or receive money online, avoid sharing personal details online - particularly personal or intimate photos, only use trusted dating websites, think twice before using your webcam, trust your instinct, and always have a conversation with someone that you trust in real life regarding your online love interest.

Anyone that believes themselves to be a victim of a romance scam can contact any garda station to report the crime, where the matter will be dealt with in confidence.

For further information and advice on romance scams, readers can visit the Fraud Smart website.

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