West Australians are losing almost $25,000 a day to romance fraud, the state's Department of Commerce has revealed.
Consumer Protection says 187 people fell victim to romance fraud last year, losing a total of $8.97 million - an average of about $48,000 per victim.
It is a big jump from 2012, when 23 people reported a total loss of $870,000.
Commissioner Anne Driscoll warned those having an online relationship and sending money overseas should seek urgent advice.
"Fraudsters are extremely clever and very professional in their deceit, expressing their supposed love for their online victims by sending flowers, cards and photos to make the relationship appear authentic," she said.
"The photos are fake and the identities usually stolen from the internet, particularly from Facebook profiles."
One victim received a scented handkerchief and another received a sketched drawing of her and the man from the photos posing as a happy couple.
Ms Driscoll said such tricks were designed to distract victims from doubting the true motivation behind requests for money.
"Often, the fraudsters will involve others in creating the con, with many victims also receiving communication from people pretending to be family members, business colleagues, lawyers or accountants of the scammer - all reinforcing the story that's being fabricated," she said.
Project Sunbird, a joint anti-fraud initiative with WA Police and Consumer Protection, recently revealed one woman was sending hundreds of thousands of dollars over a month to a man she met online, supposedly to assist with his business activities.
"These heartless fraudsters go to extraordinary lengths to make their stories believable," Ms Driscoll said.
"For the victims, the internet romance is real, but unfortunately, they are caught up in a well-organised, international criminal operation."
