CYBER SCAMS TARGET LONELY

Cop warning over online love amid lockdown Net crooks in bid to swindle Covid-19 money

- EMMA McMENAMY

CYBER criminals specialising in romance fraud are targeting lonely Irish people during the lockdown, a top cop has warned.

Det Chief Supt Pat Lordan said online con artists are preying on those stuck at home feeling alone and vulnerable.

And the head of the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau warned people looking for love online to watch out for scammers.

He told the Irish Sunday Mirror: “Now is the time when people are probably sitting at home and feeling lonely and there’s a huge amount of romance fraud.

“It’s where people will build up a relationship and then start looking for money. Now is the perfect climate for that.

“We haven’t seen any increase in it lately but we will. They contact you through any media – Facebook or one of the dating websites.

“So they set up a relationship online, they never meet the person and are more than likely living in a different country.

“For example, one might be a doctor in France, Germany or Italy and then in six weeks’ time they say something terrible has happened and that their daughter has Covid-19 and they need money for her care.

“The next thing the target is sending on €5,000.

“People will have to look out for this kind of fraud. We are not trying to frighten people, this is the reality.

“You need to be aware that the scams will come, the looking for help, the looking for money.