Two arrested after woman allegedly tricked into sending £10,000 hidden in teddy bear in romance scam
City of London Police say a Facebook contact persuaded the victim to send gift cards and later £10,000 in cash inside a soft toy to fund a claimed helicopter evacuation from an oil rig
Two people have been arrested after police say a woman was duped into sending £10,000 hidden inside a teddy bear to a supposed lover who claimed to be working on an offshore oil rig.
City of London Police said the victim was first contacted on Facebook last year and, after building an online relationship, was persuaded to send more than £3,000 in Apple gift cards to the man so he could "top up his internet" and maintain contact. The deception escalated when she was told the man needed £10,000 concealed inside a toy to pay for a helicopter evacuation from the rig; she is reported to have taken out a loan to cover the amount.
The parcel, addressed to an address in the English Midlands, was flagged by postal staff after they noticed the teddy bear felt unusually heavy. When the package was intercepted, officers found the cash concealed inside and the arrest followed. A 32-year-old man and a 28-year-old woman have been arrested, police said. City of London Police confirmed the arrests but did not provide details of any charges.
Detective Inspector Kate Duff urged members of the public to be cautious about relationships formed online, warning against moving conversations to encrypted messaging services and of any pressure to send money. "Don't be pressured to move conversations from social media platforms to encrypted message platforms. Be suspicious of anyone whom you have never met in person and don't feel pressure to send money, take a loan or send gift cards," she said. She also advised people to avoid sharing personal details such as phone numbers and to stay in contact with family and friends so they are not isolated.
Investigators and fraud prevention experts say the case follows a growing pattern in which criminals use emotional grooming to persuade victims to transfer cash, buy gift cards or send parcels. City of London Police, which is the National Lead Force for fraud, reported that more than £106 million was lost to romance fraud in the UK in the most recent year of reporting. Data from the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau show a 9 percent rise in romance fraud reports in the 2024/25 financial year, with 9,449 reports and an average loss of £11,222 per victim.
Romance fraud typically begins with contact on social media or dating platforms, followed by a period of online trust-building that can include daily messaging and declarations of affection. Fraudsters then invent emergencies or business opportunities—such as medical bills, travel costs or, as in this case, an emergency evacuation—to convince victims to send money quickly and often in ways that are difficult to trace, including gift cards and cash concealed in parcels.
Postal workers and delivery staff have increasingly been singled out as an important line of defense after several high-profile cases in which suspicious packages or unusual delivery requests prompted checks. Police said staff training and public awareness can help intercept similar attempts.
The arrests in this incident are part of broader efforts by law enforcement to disrupt organised fraud networks and support victims. Authorities encourage anyone who believes they are being targeted in a romance scam to contact their bank, report the matter to police and seek advice from fraud prevention organisations. Reporting also helps authorities identify trends and link individual cases to larger criminal operations.