Dating scams rip $28m off the lovelorn

More than $28.6m was stolen from lovelorn Aussies in dating scams last year.

More than 4,000 dating and romance scams were reported in 2019, with more than 1 in 3 victims swindled out of money. Picture: iStock.

More than $28.6m was stolen from lovelorn Aussies in dating scams last year.

Dating scams made up one-fifth of all losses reported to Scamwatch in 2019, according to the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission, which found women were the biggest victims of online scammers.

The average loss was more than $19,000 but ACCC Deputy Chair Delia Rickard said many lost much more.

“We see people who lose their homes, lose superannuation, lose everything, we see suicides, It’s right across the spectrum, we see well educated intelligent people being scammed all the time,” she said.

“Women are losing a lot more, I think we get to an age where the kids have grown up, divorce has happened, and people are looking for companionship and then they’re getting scammed.”

More than 4,000 dating and romance scams were reported in 2019, with more than one in three victims swindled out of money.

Women reported the highest total losses of $21.5 million, more than three quarters of all losses.

Men reported $7 million or 24.6 per cent of the total losses.

But Ms Rickard said the clear picture was lacking, with most scams going unreported, warning losses were likely more than $60 million.

“The main place people report is to the banks and a vast number don’t report at all,” she said.

“This is the tiniest tip of the iceberg sadly.”

Ms Rickard said it was clear lists of scam targets were circulating online, with several people repeat victims.

“Scammers have things they call the suckers list, these are all circulating on the dark web,” she said.

“Some people are more trusting and believing in others.”

However Ms Rickard she said 2019 had seen a notable change in the platforms scammers were using to target Australians, with online gaming sites like Words with Friends used to scam Australians out of more than $500,000.

“People don’t have their guard up there, you’re sitting down playing scrabble and you don’t expect to be romance scammed,” she said.

Online dating sites represent the single largest area where Australians lose money to dating scams, but Facebook comes in a clear second, followed by Instagram and Viber.

“We’re getting a reasonable degree of co-operation but they all need to lift their games in identifying scammers and getting rid of them without exception.”

“The ACCC is calling for a digital ombudsman that could take action in these cases.”

Ms Rickard said Valentine’s Day was the most active period for dating scammers.

“We know people will receive flowers on Valentines Day from these scammers, those who are lonely on Valentine’s looking for love,” she said.