This is the Guardian.

Today, dating scammers stole nearly 100 million pounds

from lonely single people in the UK last year.

How did they do it?

The first lockdown was horrendous really. I didn't handle it very well.

This is Keith Grinstead. He lives on his own in Suffolk.

I just stayed indoors in my flat and kept myself away from the world really.

I decided during that time that there was absolutely no way that I wanted to endure another lockdown if we had one on my own.

I was determined to find somebody else to share my life with.

So Keith started online dating, which was of course the only option anyone who was single had at that time to meet people.

And he matched with an American woman called Tina, who lived in Essex with her young daughter.

We just seemed to get on really, really well and be able to talk about pretty much anything.

And it was a really enjoyable time and it seemed very, very promising.

And looked hopeful for the future for when the lockdown eventually finished and we'd actually be able to go and meet each other.

They still haven't met each other when weeks into their relationship.

She started asking Keith for money.

She started telling me how little food they had in the house.

And she sent me a photograph of an empty fridge, another occasion.

She sent me a photograph of her daughter squatting on the floor with a food bowl that had no food in it.

And she tugged on my heartstrings basically.

Keith sent her a small amount of money and then suggested they meet up once restrictions lifted.

Very soon after that, all of a sudden she disappeared.

...