Overview

• The Berlin state criminal office recorded 433 romance-scam cases last year with reported losses totaling €5.6 million, and police say many victims never come forward due to shame.
• Scammers typically use stolen photos and fabricated profiles to build emotional trust before soliciting money with stories of sudden hardship.
• Police describe frequent payment demands via non-recoverable methods such as voucher codes, which make refunds unlikely once codes are sent.
• In a Bochum case, a 64-year-old was drawn into a 1.5-year online relationship, sent several thousand euros in voucher codes, and was later blackmailed with intimate images.
• Prevention guidance urges skepticism of unsolicited online overtures, verification of photos and profile details, preservation of chats and receipts as evidence, and prompt reporting to the police.