Santander UK has recently seen customers aged from 18 to 93 years old affected by romance fraud.

Santander UK warned of the lasting emotional impact victims can be left with, besides the financial loss, and urged approaching any new relationship with 'cautious optimism'

Santander has urged customers to carry out 'a few simple checks' when they first start speaking to someone online, with £3.8 million having been lost to romance scams in the last six months

The bank's experts say it is 'a natural instinct'

Customers aged 18 to 93 were affected, the bank said, in a warning to bank account holders up and down the country.

The data from Santander UK customers shows a staggering rise in romance scams in the past six months, marking a 27 per cent jump compared with the previous half-year period.