Guide
Dating Scams Over 60: Spot the Signs and Keep Your Cash
Flirt as much as you like; just never send money to someone you've only met online. Here are the tells scammers give away, and what to do if one finds you.
How Do You Spot a Dating Scam?
A dating scam is usually about money in the end, and the build-up gives it away: someone who gets very keen very fast, wants you off the site, can never quite meet or video call, then has an emergency or an investment tip. The fix is simple: never send money to anyone you haven't met in person.
The government's Stop Think Fraud campaign also suggests you "consider staying on the dating website or app until you're confident". Saucy Over Sixty is for adults only and has its own protections, covered below. Wondering whether we're above board? Is Saucy Over Sixty legit? gives the plain answer, and our other guides cover meeting up and sexual health.
Six Warning Signs to Watch For
They ask for money
A loan, a fee, a gift card, some cryptocurrency. Stop Think Fraud's advice is never to send money, vouchers, cryptocurrency or money for investments to someone you haven't met in person.
They want you off the site
Moving to WhatsApp, text or email takes you away from blocking, reporting and the site's warnings. Age UK lists wanting to move your conversation onto a different platform too quickly as a warning sign.
They never quite meet
The camera won't work, the signal's poor, the visit keeps falling through. The police list of warning signs includes "Excuses not to meet in person or to avoid live video calls".
A sob story arrives
A hospital bill, a travel cost, a sudden crisis. Medical emergencies and travel costs are both on the police list of warning signs.
They talk up an investment
A tip on cryptocurrency, or a trading scheme that supposedly can't lose. "Talk of investments" is on the police list too.
They threaten to share photos
This is sextortion: intimate pictures or video, then a demand for money to keep them private. The National Crime Agency warns there is no guarantee that paying will stop the threats.
The police list is the City of London Police's, as published by Avon and Somerset Police in May 2026.
How Common Are Dating Scams in the UK?
Common enough to take seriously. The official term is "romance fraud", and police and bank figures are separate counts, so don't add them together.
| Source | What the figures show |
|---|---|
| Police figures, published by Avon and Somerset Police in May 2026 | "10,784 reports of romance fraud" to Report Fraud in 2025, "a 29 per cent increase compared with 2024", with a total value of more than 100 million pounds |
| The same police figures, by age | People aged 55 to 74 "suffered the greatest financial losses nationally, accounting for almost half of the total amount stolen" |
| UK Finance bank data, June 2026 | "Romance fraud losses increased 23 per cent" to 39.2 million pounds, "and case numbers were up 22 per cent" |
Reports rose in 2025, and people aged 55 to 74 lost the most. That's a reason for care, not embarrassment.
What Saucy Over Sixty Does About Scammers
- WhatsApp warning
- Behaviour monitoring
- Screened uploads
- Instant blocking
- Reporting
- Help day and night
When someone tries to take your chat to WhatsApp or another app, the site puts up a warning, because that's a well-worn scam tactic. Behind the scenes, software watches for the activity patterns of bots and scammers, and uploads are screened by software and human reviewers.
The rest is in your hands: block anyone who bothers you, report them from inside the site, and tell the team by chat or messaging, day or night. The member terms also forbid asking other members for money, so a request breaks the rules as well as ringing alarm bells. The safety page lists every protection, and meeting safely covers the first meet-up.
Where to Report a Dating Scam in the UK
England, Wales and Northern Ireland
Report it to Report Fraud, the national service that replaced Action Fraud, at reportfraud.police.uk or on 0300 123 2040. The Serious Fraud Office announced the change on GOV.UK in December 2025. As nidirect confirms, Report Fraud covers Northern Ireland as well as England and Wales.
Scotland
Report it to Police Scotland on 101. The National Crime Agency points people in Scotland there, rather than to Report Fraud.
Whichever nation you're in, report the profile on Saucy Over Sixty too. Age UK's advice is to report scammers on the app or website you met them on, so the team can act.
Take Five Before You Part With a Penny
UK Finance's Take Five to Stop Fraud campaign puts it plainly.
Stop. "Take a moment to stop and think before parting with your money or information."
Challenge. "Ask yourself, could it be fake? It's ok to reject, refuse or ignore any requests."
Protect. Contact your bank straight away if you think you've been scammed, and tell the police through Report Fraud.
Sent Money to a Scammer? What to Do Next
- Call your bank now. Ofcom says that if your bank supports it, you can call 159 to be connected safely to your bank.
- Report it. Report Fraud on 0300 123 2040 if you're in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, or Police Scotland on 101.
- Cut contact and keep the evidence. Block them on Saucy Over Sixty and anywhere else they reach you, report the profile, and don't delete the messages.
- Talk to someone. Victim Support's Supportline, 08 08 16 89 111, is open 24/7 in England and Wales, and Samaritans answer on 116 123 at any hour. There's no shame in it.
Dating Scam Questions
Should I ever send money to someone I met on a dating site?
Not if you haven't met them in person, however long you've been chatting and however good the reason sounds. Report anyone who asks.
Is it a scam if someone won't video call?
Not always: some people are just camera-shy. But it's on the police list of warning signs, so if it comes with a sob story or talk of money, treat it as a red flag.
How do I report a dating scam in Scotland?
Call Police Scotland on 101. That's where the National Crime Agency says to report it in Scotland. Report the profile on the site too.
Someone is threatening to share my intimate photos. What do I do?
Don't pay. The National Crime Agency's advice is to stop all contact, block them, keep anything that could be evidence, and go to the police (101, or 999 if there's an immediate risk of harm). StopNCII.org supports adults threatened with the sharing of private sexual images. As the NCA says, "If this has happened to you, it is not your fault."
Would my bank or the police ask me to move money?
No. Stop Think Fraud says genuine service providers, banks and the police will never call asking you to transfer money, share personal financial details or hand over remote control of your computer. Hang up and ring your bank on a number you trust.
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