Almost £8million lost to scam in 2019
HSBC is hosting a free drop-in session today, Valentine's Day, to offer advice on 'romance fraud'.
It's a collaboration with the Isle of Man Constabulary's cyber team, to help members of the public understand how to spot and prevent fraudsters gaining access to private information through things like online dating sites.
Experts from the bank, and police, will be on hand at the Ridgeway Street branch in Douglas between 11 and two.
Fraudsters often use a fake identity to enter into a relationship with the victim, with the aim of stealing either money or sensitive information.
According to trade body, UK Finance, romance scam cases rose by 64% in the first half of 2019, compared with the same period a year earlier.
Almost £8million was lost to romance fraud in the UK between January and June 2019, with just £500,000 of that returned to victims.
You're reminded to never send money or bank details online, and keep personal details private - including addresses, and family identities.
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