Domestic abuse community support project launched in Clackmannanshire
Victim Support Scotland has launched a new community support project for women and girls in Clackmannanshire who have been impacted by domestic abuse.
Victim Support Scotland has launched a new video to help raise awareness of the impact of romance fraud.
The video is part of this year's Victims' Awareness Week campaign, which focusses on cyber crime. It tells the story of Sue, who was a victim of an elaborate romance fraud scam that lasted 16 months. It involved a person posing as a worker on an oil rig, gaining her trust and scamming her out of thousands of pounds.
Romance fraud is a growing problem across the UK, with data from the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) reporting a 9% increase and estimating that £106 million was lost to this type of crime in 2024/25.
Fraudsters are using increasingly sophisticated methods to befriend and then defraud people, including the use of AI-generated videos and voice-altering technology.
Signs that someone might be conducting romance fraud include:
- They claim to work overseas, for example on an oil rig or in the military
- To start with, they make requests for small amounts of money, often on a gift card
- Further requests for money are urgent, for example funds for an emergency medical procedure
- They declare their love for you quickly and encourage you to keep the relationship secret – sometimes referred to as love bombing
- They make excuses to not chat on video calls or meet in person (although AI-technology can be used for video calls).
Debbie Adams, Interim Chief Executive at Victim Support Scotland, said:
"We are incredibly thankful to Sue for bravely sharing her story. She did so in the hope that it will educate people about the warning signs of romance fraud and hopefully prevent someone else from experiencing what she went through.
"For anyone who has been affected by this type of crime, we would urge you to come forward for support. We can provide free, non-judgmental, compassionate support - and if you're not ready to report it to the police, we can help you do that when and if you are ready. Reach out through our helpline or website."
