The British Office of Fair Trading has issued a warning about online dating scams, where scammers find their victims among those searching for a meaningful relationship. Officials say its very easy for criminals to use chat rooms or the best known online dating sites to snag, not a relationship, but a victim.

“The internet has opened up a new and exciting way to meet your potential life partner and, although the vast majority of those who sign up to an online dating agency are genuine, some scam artists are out to trap the unwary,” the agency said in a statement.

The scammers take a few weeks to develop a relationship with someone online, convincing them that a true romance has begun. While the victim looks forward to a face to face meeting, a last minute emergency will develop, requiring the online partner to come up with some cash in order to follow through on their plans.

The victim, eager for the meeting to take place, almost always happily supplies the necessary funds. At that point, the scammer disappears, along with the money, perhaps to live happily ever after.