Love-struck victims were duped into handing over £100,000 in cash at a souvenir shop in Oxford Street for a celebrity they believed they were dating, police have revealed.
Two arrests have been made as City of London Police investigate the alleged scam being operated out of a backroom office on the famous shopping street in central London.
One victim is said to have handed over more than £60,000 in cash after being sucked into the fraud.
The arrests were made in the run-up to Valentine’s Day, which City of London Police – the national lead on tackling economic crime – said is a peak period for so-called “romance frauds”.
Police said victims targeted online “would be directed to go to an office that was sub-let, separate from the main shop, and deposit large quantities of cash where they were told it would be sent to a well-known celebrity with whom they believed they were in a relationship.
“The location given was a backroom of a souvenir shop on Oxford Street, one of the busiest shopping districts in London.“
The two people arrested have been released under investigation, while police said more than £100,000 in cryptocurrency has also been seized.
Police said it had received a “flurry of reports from victims“ to the Action Fraud hotline.
“Romance fraud is one of the most deplorable and cruel crimes“, said Detective Inspector Steve Weller, Specialist Operations at City of London Police.
“Not only does the victim suffer significant financial loss, they also suffer the emotional torment of a love lost.
“In many cases, the victims do not disclose the offences committed against them.
“Romance fraud is often linked to serious organised crime and these arrests mark a significant step in preventing wider harm. “This is a heartless crime, and we urge the public to stay vigilant. Talk to friends, family and support organisations, and never send money to someone you’ve only met online, especially if you haven’t met them in person.
“If you are being encouraged to buy or invest in cryptocurrency, do your research and seek advice. Never hand over cash or property in exchange for cryptocurrency.“
Nottinghamshire police issued a warning in 2023 about soaring numbers of romance frauds involving celebrities, revealing that TV chef James Martin had been used to lure in victims.
In January this year, it was revealed that a French woman had been conned out of $855,000 when she believed for a year that she was dating movie star Brad Pitt.
The Oscar winner spoke out at the time, saying: "It’s awful that scammers take advantage of fans’ strong connection with celebrities." He added: "This is an important reminder to not respond to unsolicited online outreach, especially from actors who have no social media presence."
