Valentine's Day is here again, and while some people are spending it with their partner, others might be getting unknowingly scammed online. Federal agencies and tech companies are sounding the alarm on "romance scammers," many of whom live overseas and use the promise of a romantic encounter to lure in Americans.

Islanders lost about £406,000 last year from romance scams, Jersey police have said. Recent figures from the police showed five cases had been reported in Jersey in 2024, compared to three cases the year before.

For years, brave romance scam victims have shared their stories to prevent others from meeting the same fate. But rarely do those who’ve committed the scams tell us how to avoid them.