Romance fraud is where a person creates an emotional bond with someone with the aim of stealing their money or personal information. The impact can be devastating, often leaving victims with financial losses and significant emotional trauma.
Ahead of Valentine’s Day, the Force wants to partner with the hair and beauty industry, encouraging staff to raise awareness of romance fraud among their clients.
Participating salons and barbers will be provided with a training pack and other materials, advising how they can have sensitive conversations with clients about romance fraud, help them to recognise the warning signs and signpost them to the appropriate support.
The aim is to create safe spaces for victims of romance fraud to come forward.
The campaign follows a successful trial at Toni & Guy salons in Bournemouth and Ringwood in 2025, as well as Dorset Police’s Big Night In campaign which ran last Valentine’s Day, resulting in an increased number of victims coming forward to report romance fraud and receiving crucial support.
Damian Cranny, Fraud Protect Officer at Dorset Police, said: “Meeting a partner online should be an enjoyable and safe experience. Sadly, criminals are using it as an opportunity to steal money and personal information. They know how to manipulate people’s emotions, which can override their critical thinking.
“By using salons and barber shops as a safe place to talk, we can beat the fraudsters from stealing people’s hearts and money, and ensure people feel supported to report romance fraud.”
All Dorset hair salons and barbershops are invited to participate by emailing [email protected]
The Force is also offering some advice for daters:
-Be wary of sharing personal information about yourself online, especially if you have not met in person
-Stay on the dating platform if you met this way, until you meet in person
-Talk to a trusted friend or family member before sending money to anyone you meet online
-If you are online dating, carry out a reverse image search on the person’s photo
-Be wary if someone is asking for payments via gift cards or cryptocurrency
-Remember that in healthy relationships, no one should ask you to lie
