Latvian woman loses nearly €100,000 in romance scam spanning seven years

A woman from Latvia has lost almost €100,000 in a romance scam that lasted seven years. She began communicating with a man in 2018, and over time he fabricated emergencies such as stolen documents, imprisonment, and lawyer debts to request money. The two never met in person, though they occasionally had video calls.

Despite the bank repeatedly flagging suspicious transactions and warning her about potential romance fraud, the woman initially thanked the bank for its concern but dismissed the alerts and continued transferring funds. Only later did she admit that some payments might have been unnecessary.

Mārcis Pelcis, head of SEB bank's Security Department, explains that victims lose more than just money. “In such cases, people have invested years in a relationship, received emotional support, and formed a strong attachment. When someone suggests that the loved one may not exist, it questions their entire reality of the past years,” he said.

According to Pelcis, romance scams are not common but involve large sums because fraudsters operate over long periods. Typical red flags include rapid declarations of love without physical meetings, constant excuses for avoiding face-to-face encounters, sudden emergencies requiring financial help, and contradictory stories.

Experts advise being skeptical, asking difficult questions, and never sending money to someone you have not met in person. If such signs appear, it is recommended to talk to relatives or contact the bank or police.