Police in Northern Ireland have issued a St Valentine's Day warning after a victim lost more than £130,000 to a person with whom she had developed an online relationship.
It happened last April and was one of 80 such scams last year.
Detectives said it was a "personal story of a female who has had their life ruined by someone they grew to trust and build a relationship with".
Chair of the Scamwise NI Partnership, Superintendent Gerard Pollock said he believed the crime was often under-reported because people who had fallen for such scams were "too embarrassed" to contact police.
The warning was issued in the run-up to Valentine's Day as it is thought people will be spending more time on dating apps and websites.
Superintendent Pollock said fraudsters would seek to build a relationship quickly and try to move the conversation off the app or site into private messaging.
He said this was done in case their profile on the app was deleted should it be reported.
"They appear very interested in you, very quickly, but will often have lots of excuses for not being able to meet in person, a family emergency or a work problem that's just come up.
"Soon they will ask you for money to help them sort out their problems, or to help them come meet you, perhaps to pay for travel, all the while assuring you it will be paid back."
Superintendent Pollock advised people to stay on whatever app or site they were using and to research the social media footprint of anyone they were in contact with.
He said a reverse image search could often turn up the use of fake photographs in profiles.
"Never ever send money to someone you haven't met in person.
"If you're looking for friendship, companionship or love online, it should never start with being asked for money, and if it does, it's not a friend or a relationship worth having," Superintendent Pollock said.
