Watch out for Valentine’s Day scams – five common tactics to be aware of

Brits have been urged to watch out for romance scams this Valentine’s Day.

Fraudsters target unsuspecting victims in all sorts of ways, from fine wine and Winter Fuel Payments to motor finance compensation.

But romance scams are also on the rise – and criminals will likely try to cash in ahead of 14 February.

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The amount of money sent to romance scammers jumped by 37% between 2024 and 2025, according to research from major bank TSB. Meanwhile, trade body UK Finance said over £20 million was lost to romance scams in the first half of 2025.

TSB said fraudsters often groom victims for several months, building up trust before making sudden requests for money.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) led a review into romance scams, which closed in October, over concerns the devastating practice was on the rise. As part of the review, the regulator laid out measures banks and other financial institutions should take to protect customers.

But there are steps you can take yourself to avoid falling prey to the most common ones – not least this Valentine’s Day.

Five scams to look out for this Valentine’s Day – and how to avoid them

There are five major scams to look out for ahead of Valentine’s Day, says Kara Gammell, personal finance expert at price comparison site MoneySuperMarket.

Dodgy dating profiles

Brits looking for love are at particular risk of falling victim to dating app-based romance fraud.

Fraudsters often create fake profiles on dating apps, gaining people’s trust, before saying they’re experiencing a crisis or emergency, such as a medical incident or visa problem and asking for money urgently.

Gammell said: “These tactics are designed to play on your emotions and create a sense of panic so you feel pressured into making a quick decision.”

If you find yourself in such a situation, it’s important to take time to pause and verify the person’s identity before sending them cash.

“Be cautious of profiles that seem too perfect, push for rapid declarations of love, or repeatedly avoid meeting in person or even via a video call,” Gammell explained.

Fake flowers

Flowers are a popular Valentine’s Day gift for a loved one, but scammers will often set up fake websites purporting to sell you bouquets, which are actually non-existent.

Victims pay for the flowers but find they never arrive. Instead their hard-earned cash has fallen into the pockets of criminals.

Gammell said: “Before buying from a retailer you don’t recognise, take a moment to check reviews and confirm the site’s contact details to help ensure it’s genuine.”

Charges for ‘unpaid’ delivery fees

Many people now do much of their shopping online, not least around Valentine’s Day – but watch out for scammers posing as delivery companies.

Some will claim a parcel can’t be sent due to an ‘unpaid fee’, which is a ruse. This type of trick often plays out through text messages which include links requesting payment.

Not only can you lose the initial upfront fee money, any personal or financial details handed over could be used by the fraudsters to target you again and again.

Scammers could use the information to trick you into making unauthorised transactions or to send you phishing messages to get you to hand over even more personal data.

Gammell said: “If you’re unsure, don’t click the link. Instead, go directly to the courier’s official website to check delivery status and stay safe.”

Social media giveaways

Fraudsters sometimes create posts on social media platforms claiming to offer people Valentine’s-themed prizes and giveaways. They are subject to a ‘release fee’, but scam victims could then find the prize never arrives.

Because there are sometimes genuine brands running legitimate competitions, it can be hard to spot the difference between a fake and real giveaway.

You may even be contacted directly, claiming you’ve been selected for a “giveaway”.

Gammell said: “If you’re contacted by an account claiming you’ve won, take a moment to check whether it’s the brand’s verified profile and avoid clicking on any links that look suspicious.”

Gammell also said misspelled words in fake brands’ posts are also a major red flag to look out for.

Gift card grabbers

Gift cards, while sometimes saving the buyer time and effort, can be a common target for scammers.

They will often copy card numbers and security codes from gift cards on shelves and, once the card has been bought at the till and activated, can quickly extract the money before the recipient has a chance to use it.

Gammell said: “To stay safe, choose gift cards kept behind the counter and always check the packaging for signs of tampering before you buy.”

We reveal the top type of investment scams to be aware of in another piece.

Top tips for protecting yourself

Gammell highlighted three general tips you can deploy to protect yourself from romance scammers this Valentine’s Day.

• Buy from a trusted retailer – avoid buying from unfamiliar sites, auction platforms or social media ads. Stick to trusted retailers with verified customer reviews and always check for ‘https://’ in the web address which means it is encrypted and your personal information is protected.
• Pay with plastic – if possible, use a credit card for online purchases. This offers you protection on purchases between £100 and £30,000 under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act. Debit card payments aren’t covered by Section 75 but you might have protection through chargeback. It’s not a legal protection but an agreement Visa, Mastercard and American Express have signed up to.
• Say no to saving payment information – saving your payment details, even on a legitimate website, can expose your data if it is targeted in a cyber attack. Instead, use payment methods like Apple Pay and PayPal which are more secure.