DATING website users are being urged to be vigilant after people were conned into sending money to scammers.

Hampshire Police have received reports of seven scams where users were approached by people claiming to live abroad.

Over the course of weeks, months and years, the victims were asked to send money for flight tickets, visits, mobile phones, or in two cases even the promise of marriage.

Detective Inspector Lee McClellan, of Basingstoke CID, said: “The victims in these types of incidents are often vulnerable and genuinely believe they are in a relationship with the person they have met online.

“While the majority of accounts on dating websites are genuine people looking for romance, some are used by fraudsters to gain people’s trust and ask them for money or enough personal information to steal their identity.

“Once victims send money, the fraudsters will keep coming back and invent new reasons to send them more.

“It can be embarrassing for the victim to report they have been scammed, but we would urge anyone who believes they have been a victim, or anyone who believes they know someone who may be a victim, to call us on 101.”

Police are reminding users to avoid giving away personal details when dating online, never to send or recieve money or give out bank details, and to only use reputable sites.

For more information visit www.actionfraud.police.uk/fraud-az-romance-scams and to report being the victim of a scam call 101.