There’s a warning for lonely hearts looking for love online this Valentine’s Day.

Romance scams are on the rise, with Aussies swindled out of tens of millions of dollars each year. It’s a lucrative market for offshore scam centres, often backed by organised crime syndicates.

Romance rip-offs were the third most reported scam type in Australia last year. There were more than 3000, with victims swindled out of an eyewatering $28 million – 21 per cent more than the previous year.

So, what are the red flags to look out for?

Most of the time, the contact is all online, and Australians aged over 45 are frequently targeted. Shortly after connection has been established, there are often requests for money due to things like a crisis in the family, or travel plans gone awry.

Scammers may also attempt to get you off the online dating platform and into a private chat – all things to be aware of if you’re one of many looking for love in the digital age.

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