West Coast beekeeper Roy Arbon lost a fortune in a series of elaborate scams. Photo / Loading Docs
Kiwis are losing millions of dollars a year to romance scams, according to the police’s financial crime unit.
Detective Senior Sergeant Chris Allan says they’re receiving a “consistent stream” of reports from people who have been scammed by a potential love interest they met online or via a dating app.
Allan says the scam usually begins with a match on a reputable dating site, and the scammer then moves the conversation to WhatsApp.
From here, they have a story about being a wealthy businessman or military staff based overseas – once trust has been gained, they request money from their victim.
Often, they prefer cryptocurrency but sending cash or requesting a bank transfer is also common.
Allan says an investigation into the scams indicates they are usually run by an organised crime group based offshore and are scamming multiple people at…
