Romance fraud is emotional abuse with financial consequences and banks are on the front line.
Behind every fraudulent transfer is a story of manipulation, grooming, and emotional coercion (Romance Abuse). Victims aren’t making poor decisions. They’re being controlled.
This day calls on banks, building societies, fintech platforms, and payment processors to spot the signs, respond with empathy, and interrupt the abuse, without compounding the trauma.
Spotting unusual payment patterns is key to spotting the fraud early and reducing the trauma and loss.
This means really knowing your customer.
What’s happening on Financial Institutions Day?
Day 4 question: What did the financial system see — and what did it not see?
WHO SAW IT?
Who saw the money move?
Day 1
Monday
Transactions
Tesco Petrol Utility bill Coffee
Day 2
Tuesday
Transactions
Salary Sainsbury’s Express Premier Inn
Day 3
Wednesday
Transactions
Coffee LNER Ticket Car Park
Day 4
Thursday
Transactions
Churchill Ins Off Licence Utility bill Pharmacy
Day 5
Friday
Transactions
Salary IN Amazon
Day 6
Saturday
Transactions
Zara Boots Coffee
Day 7
Sunday
Transactions
The Week
The Ordinary Week
Know your customer: the week by week payment patterns.
What changed?
What could the bank see?
And what questions could have been asked?
Day 153
Monday
Transactions
Tesco Petrol Gift Card Coffee
Day 154
Tuesday
Transactions
Salary Off Licence Mobile Service 1
Day 155
Wednesday
Transactions
Gift Card Large Cash Withdrawal Car Park
Day 156
Thursday
Transactions
Sun Life Pension Credit Western Union Eon Moonpay
Day 157
Friday
Transactions
Savings TRF Amazon
Day 158
Saturday
Transactions
Mobile Service 2 Superdrug Coffee
Day 159
Sunday
Transactions
The Week
5 months in to the fraud
Know your customer: the week by week payment patterns.
If you could see the whole week, what would you notice?
And:
What questions could have been asked?
Summing Up
Changing the Culture of Response
Too many victims say their bank made them feel more ashamed than the fraudster did. That’s not protection, that’s retraumatisation.
This day invites institutions to step out of silence and into leadership. Banks have the power to protect customers not just from fraud, but from blame.
The Ask: Raise the Standard
This isn’t about refunding every case. It’s about: ✔ Recognising trauma as part of the transaction ✔ Educating frontline staff ✔ Building in human safety – not just security protocols
Stopping it before it starts.
Collaborations:
Barclays and City of London Police 10am-2pm
Sep
29
Morrisons
Morrisons Five Ways, Croydon, CR04 4RZ
SEP
30
Bluewater Shopping Centre
Bluewater Shopping Centre (outside M&S), Kent, DA9 9SD
SEP
30
Morrisons
Morrisons Welling, Welling High Street, DA16 1QL
OCT
01
Co-op
Co-Op, Station Road, Ruthin, LL15 1BP
OCT
02
Morrisons
Morrisons, Oxted, RH8 9AE
oct
03
Ruxley Manor
Ruxley Manor, Orpington, BA14 5BQ
oct
03
Burston Garden Centre
Burston Garden Centre, North Orbital Road, AL2 2DS
