"Surge in Romance Scams: How AI and Banks Are Fighting Back"

Reports of romance fraud have surged by almost 60% over four years, with 7,660 cases processed in England and Wales last year. A woman from Brighton, Mary Chater, shared her experience of being lured by a scammer on Facebook who claimed to be a UN doctor, while the government insists that fraud is decreasing. The use of fake profiles and stolen images by fraudsters has prompted calls for tech companies like Meta to implement stricter verification processes. Despite a rise in reported cases, many victims are still hesitant to seek help due to shame and stigma, prompting a new advertising campaign by the government to combat scammers.