Barclays are asking their banking customers if they are trying to send money to a ‘love interest’ in a bid to crack down on romance scams.
When setting up a new transfer, the high street banking giant’s app asks users they are paying a bill, buying a physical item, or sending money to a romantic partner.
It comes amid a drastic spike in online fraud during the pandemic, with some 13 million people falling victim to fraudsters and hackers in England and Wales, in the 12 months to September.
The new feature also comes in the wake of women – some in the UK – being conned out of money by ‘Tinder Swindler’ Shimon Hayut, 30, who was convicted of fraud in 2019.
The Israeli lured in trusting women on dating apps by posing as Simon Leviev, the son of billionaire businessman Lev Leviev, and is his Ponzi scheme has now become the focus of a new Netflix drama.
But Barclays’ new payment option has baffled some customers, who criticised the bank’s invasion of their privacy.
Barclays’ banking app is asking customers if they are sending money to a ‘Partner or love interest’ as part of a crackdown on romance scams
The high street bank’s payment app offers users to select if they are paying a bill, buying a physical item, or now sending money to a romantic partner to separate claims from ‘Friends and family’ members
The new feature also comes in the wake of women – some in the UK – being conned out of money by ‘Tinder Swindler’ Shimon Hayut, 30, who was convicted of…
