A new Internet scam is tricking people who are looking for love. Conmen are using old love letters and romantic language. They buy "scam packs" online for just a few dollars. They include love letters, photos, videos and fake identities. The conmen then pretend to be looking for love on dating sites. The conmen write to their victim and when they become friends, they ask for money. They give many different excuses and reasons why they need money.
London police said 3,900 people got scammed online in 2016, mostly women. The average amount of money lost was $12,500. The average age of the victims was 59. A police officer described the damage the scams do to people's lives. He said the emotional damage is usually bigger than the lost money. He said people should never give money to strangers online, even if that person tells a very sad story. People should always be on their guard.