Romance scam
Richard wasn't expecting to meet someone special online - but sometimes not everyone online is who they claim to be.
Richard wasn’t looking to develop feelings for someone, he was simply hoping to meet someone to spend time with.
When Lucy contacted him, she seemed genuine, caring, and interested in getting to know him. Their conversations became more frequent, and over time Richard began to trust her. Everything felt natural, even though they had never met in person.
But not everyone online is who they claim to be.
This scenario explores how romance scams develop over time, showing how scammers build emotional connections, gain trust, and create believable reasons to ask for money or personal information. Follow Richard’s story and learn how emotions can be used to manipulate even the most careful people.
Press PLAY to follow Richard’s story and learn how to spot the warning signs before it happens to you.
(Don’t worry – when you play one of our scenarios, your data remains completely anonymous.)
If you receive a request to do something that doesn't seem normal, make sure you pause, think, then decide.
Scammers are clever - be confident and trust that warning voice in your head when something is not quite right.
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