Officials are now sending out warnings to lonely singles looking for love online this Valentine's Day, after a report was received that there has been a 30% hike in online dating and romance-related scams.

A warning has been issued by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to the country's die-hard romantics to stay alert and cautious, with over 550 consumer complaints about the said scams over the past year.

People looking for love online are now being warned to not disclose their personal details on dating websites and chat rooms, and to make sure that they have all safety precautions in place when they arrange a meeting with someone they met online.

"Scammers target victims by creating fake profiles on internet dating sites, chat rooms or introductory services, and they go to great lengths to establish a trusting relationship with victims. These scammers then prey on the victim's emotional vulnerability by representing that they wish to travel to Australia or are in urgent need of money and ask for help to pay for airfares, passport, family hospital bills and other costs", said ACCC Deputy Chairman Peter Kell.