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With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, West Australians are being warned to be wary of romance scams after con-artists stole nearly $5 million in 2024.

Consumer Protection said deepfake video technology was increasingly being used to deceive people, with 57 West Australians reporting financial losses from romance scams last year, up nearly 35 per cent from 2023.

In one case, a WA woman was tragically scammed twice over five years, losing around $780,000.

Her losses included the proceeds from selling her house, her superannuation, and the cost of two trips to the Netherlands, which she believed was paying for her scammer’s release from prison.

Despite the higher 2024 losses, the number of reports to Consumer Protection from WA victims of romance scams declined slightly from the previous year in which 71 reports were received.

Commissioner for Consumer Protection Trish Blake welcomed the news but expressed concern over the significantly higher total losses.

“An average loss of over $87,000 and in one case nearly $800,000 – that’s the devastating reality of romance scams in 2024. These staggering figures represent a lifetime of savings for many and can be financially crippling,” she said.

“We must remain vigilant as scammers are constantly adapting their tactics and using a wider range of channels to target their victims, including dating sites, gaming apps and social media.”

Blake highlighted the emergence of artificial intelligence as a significant challenge for both consumers and authorities in the fight against scams.

“Deepfake technology is allowing scammers to create highly realistic videos, impersonating fabricated love interests and exploiting the images of real people in the process,” she said.

“That’s why our advice remains that unless you can meet in person, you should proceed with extreme caution, as you can’t always trust what you see in video calls or hear over the phone.”