TSB Bank Reports 37% Surge in Romance Scam Losses Amid Rising Case Numbers in 2025
TSB Bank, a British retail and commercial bank, has warned of a sharp rise in romance fraud, with money sent to scammers jumping 37% in the past year and case volumes up 15%.
Romance scams remain among the most damaging forms of fraud in the UK, combining financial loss with emotional exploitation. Figures from UK Finance showed that victims lost £20.5 million in just the first half of 2025, across nearly 3,000 reported romance fraud cases.
TSB’s analysis of customer data reveals:
- victims typically make 11 payments per scam, losing an average of £7,500 before realising they’ve been deceived.
- The average fraudulent “relationship” lasts 95 days, though one extreme case saw nearly 50 payments sent over 42 months.
- Older adults are disproportionately affected: people over 55 account for 58% of cases, with the 65–74 age group the most targeted (23%).
Scammers rely on persuasive techniques to maintain control over victims:
- 43% claimed to be living abroad
- 29% posed as celebrities
- 18% pretended to be serving in the military
- 10% said they worked on oil rigs
To extract money, fraudsters often cite personal crises:
- 48% claimed financial hardship
- 37% requested transport funds, promising to meet in person
- 9% fabricated medical expenses
- 4% resorted to blackmail
Social media and dating apps remain the main channels:
- 58% of cases began on social platforms, with Facebook alone accounting for 30% of TSB’s cases
- 42% originated on dating apps and websites
TSB says it prevents significant potential losses by flagging fraudulent accounts and intervening with customers before payments are made.
Romance cases reported by BrokersView:
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