Women are being warned about an on-line dating scam involving men claiming to be British soldiers serving abroad and in require of money.
West Mercia Police said they had been contacted by a number of ladies from Kidderminster who had given their bank details to bogus British soldiers.
One woman reported to police on Tuesday that she thought she was being set up for a scam.
Police have urged individuals only to make use of reputable web sites.
She became suspicious when the details the “soldier” had given about himself did not appear to be accurate.
‘Romance scammers’
Pc Lee Halford of West Mercia Police said: “We are keen to create ladies who use web dating web sites conscious of these scams to ensure that they’ll exercise caution.
“So-called ‘romance scammers’ will set out to form an on-line relationship over a period of weeks or months and then make a request for money when they really feel they’ve established sufficient trust.
“They might, for instance, ask for money or a money transfer to pay for a plane ticket, for medical bills or even to set up a telephone link near a military base abroad.
“We would advise anyone using an on-line dating or chat service to make use of reputable sites and to follow their suggested safety suggestions.
“Do not send money, nevertheless genuine the request might appear.”
