Lonely hearts have been warned that while romance scammers could strike at any time, the stakes were higher at this time of year

Cruel crooks have been targeting those looking for love in the run up to Valentine’s Day. Lonely hearts have been warned that while romance scammers could strike at any time, the stakes were higher at this time of year.

Criminal go to great lengths to woo their victims, often adopting a fake identity as they spend weeks or months attempting to gain affection and trust. Zoning in on those in search of genuine relationships, the con artists then manipulate their victims into handing over their hard-earned cash.

Nationwide has urged online daters to be extra cautious this week. It comes as new research from the building society showed that more than a third of people have encountered social media profiles that seemed ‘too good to be true’, while 27 per cent of dating singles said they were contacted by someone pretending to be someone they’re not.

READ MORE: Police witness ‘shocking behaviour’ during Monday morning school-run

Annya Burskys, Nationwide’s head of fraud operations, said: “Scammers sadly take advantage of people looking for love all year round, but the stakes are higher at this time of year, with our research showing many feel under pressure to have a date around Valentines Day while many are lonely. Scammers know what they are doing and won’t stop at exploiting unsuspecting victims, especially around Valentine’s Day when emotions run high. If in doubt, speak to your bank or building society for support before making a payment you have suspicions about.”

Below, we’ve rounded up some of the worst romance scam cases from across the Midlands in recent years, including heartbreaking accounts from victims. You’ll also find some top tips from Nationwide about how to spot a potential romance fraudster – and what to do if you fall foul of a scam.

Serial conman tricked ‘lovers’ out of £300k

This serial conman convinced well-to-do women he was looking for love before fleecing them out of thousands of pounds. Cieran McNamara went to luxury golf clubs, hotels and restaurants in search of his victims – using the cash he pocketed from them to entice and trap his next target.

McNamara claimed to be a successful businessman and would show potential victims photographs of himself at mansions in London and Cheshire, plus snaps of him travelling first class across the world. He’d also shower his victims with gifts, weekends away and expensive meals – but after splashing his ill-gotten gains and convincing the women he loved them, he’d create a fake crisis.

The fraudster would also claim he had banking issues and needed to borrow money. McNamara, from Coventry, would turn on the women if they questioned his motives or doubted him.

Between September 1, 2022, and September 25, 2023, McNamara swindled four women out of more than £300,000. He was caught in September 2023, when a victim in Cheshire realised what was happening and told police.

A lock-up he rented in Kings Norton was raided, with police finding around £19,500-worth of new goods – including a £1,900 Burberry coat, a £400 Burberry scarf, Dubarry boots and Gucci trainers. McNamara – who also used the names Cieran Griffin, Christian McNamara and Myles McNamara – admitted four counts of fraud by false representation and was jailed for seven years.

Romeo con artist duped lonely mum

A mum fell ’hook, line and sinker’ for a cruel online trickster who posed as an American soldier. Berna Ireland’s lockdown loneliness was exploited by the scammer, who befriended her while playing an online game.

The Wolverhampton woman exchanged flirty messages with the ‘soldier’ and planned to meet him during his ‘leave from Afghanistan’. When he later claimed he needed £4,000 to help paying a bill from a builder, Berna had wanted to help, especially as he’d said he’d return the money and more, but was unable to draw on the sum at that stage.

Berna began to realise she could be a scam target and, when she shared suspicions with West Midlands Police, it emerged the con artist had falsely taken the identity of someone else in their mid-50s. Speaking in 2021, Berna said: “I was lucky as I would have most likely paid the money if I had it there.

“He was so convincing, there seemed a connection and it felt so nice. When I look back now I think how on earth was I drawn in, my friends are shocked it could have happened to someone like me. It’s hard not to feel embarrassed about it, but I’m relieved I came to my senses.”

Lonely women targeted by dating scam gang

Eric Ocansey was one of five men who scammed innocent victims out of thousands in a “cunning, cruel, and highly manipulative” romance fraud. The twisted quintet preyed on women on internet dating sites.

They posed as wealthy businessmen with international lifestyles in order to persuade their victims of their genuine romantic interest. Ocansey, Daniel Keh, Obed Addo, Yaw Sarpong and Nicholas Adade then started asking to borrow money, saying they needed help with everything from veterinary bills, to legal fees and travel costs.

All five men were jailed at Guildford Crown Court in August 2019, with Ocansey, from Birmingham, sentenced to two years for conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation, plus 14 months for money laundering, to run concurrently.

How to protect yourself from romance scammers this Valentine’s Day

Nationwide has issued the following tips to help people stay safe while dating online:

Be cautious

If something seems too good to be true, it usually is. People should look out for overly flattering photos or inconsistent details in someone’s story.

Watch out for ‘love bombing’

Scammers often try to win over their targets quickly with overwhelming affection. People were urged to take their time and get to know the person and trust their instincts.

Do a reverse image search

Anyone who suspects a photo might be stolen, should use tools like Google’s Reverse Image Search Tool to check its origin.

Don’t send money to someone you haven’t met in person

Be especially cautious if someone you’ve just met online asks for money or favours, even if they claim to have an emergency.

Report suspicious activity

If something doesn’t feel right, report the profile to the platform or dating app. Nationwide customers can use its Scam Checker service, in a branch or by calling 0800 030 40 57 if they are in any doubt about who they are paying, to check their validity.