Romance scams: fake US soldier and supposed prince – two women lose thousands

Two new romance scam cases are occupying police in the German states of Rhineland-Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia. As the Western Palatinate police headquarters (Polizeipräsidium Westpfalz) announced on 20 October, unknown perpetrators built a relationship with a 62-year-old woman over several years via social media and text messages. One of them posed as a US soldier who needed money. The woman sent voucher codes several times, believing she was helping someone. The loss amounts to about 8,000 euros; police are investigating for fraud.

In the Euskirchen district, an older woman transferred a total of 15,000 euros to a man she had met online who presented himself as a "Prince of Dubai", according to the district police authority. The contact had developed online over about three months before he asked for money. The criminal police have opened an investigation. According to police, such scams follow a pattern: the perpetrators deliberately build an emotional bond and then invent emergencies – such as medical bills, customs fees or legal costs – sometimes backed by fake images. Payment is requested by domestic or foreign bank transfer or with voucher codes; sometimes victims are asked to let their own account be used to forward money to supposed notaries or lawyers.

Police advise never to send money or voucher codes to people known only from the internet and never met in person. Anyone who has already paid should contact their bank immediately to stop or recall the payment if possible, secure chat histories, profiles and payment receipts, and file a police report – even if it feels embarrassing. Talking to a trusted person can also help. More information is available on the German portal polizei-beratung.de. According to police, however, individual warning signs are not in themselves proof of fraud.