Greater Manchester Romance Fraud Scams Lead to £1m Losses in 2024

A woman from Greater Manchester was scammed out of over £20,000 by a conman posing as a well-known Emmerdale actor, who gained her trust through social media and phone calls over eight months. The fraudster claimed the money was needed for various emergencies, including legal costs, household breakdowns, and family support abroad, but never repaid the funds. Another victim lost around £10,000 to a similar scam involving a different celebrity impersonation. Greater Manchester Police have reported a rise in romance fraud cases, with 148 reports and losses of over £1 million so far this year, and 267 reports with £2.67 million lost in 2024. Specialist officers from GMP's Cyber and Economic Crime Awareness Service (CECAS) are supporting victims, while Detective Inspector Stacey Shannon emphasized the profound emotional and financial impact of these scams. Police encourage victims to report fraud to Action Fraud and their banks and promote awareness events and support groups like LoveSaid to help prevent further cases.