Warning as pensioner loses £130k in romance scam

The woman was conned by a man claiming to be a celebrity businessman

Police have issued a warning about romance scams after a pensioner lost more than £100,000 to an online fraudster.

The woman, from Staffordshire, fell victim to the scam after she was contacted on Facebook by a man claiming to be a well-known celebrity businessman in the technology sector.

Over a two-month period, she sent him about £130,000 believing he would come to the UK to settle down with her, and remortgaged her house in the process.

Staffordshire Police said the case was under investigation and was being highlighted as part of a campaign to raise awareness of online fraud.

The scam was revealed when the victim's family noticed a change in her behaviour, her weekly pension not lasting, and that she was not eating properly due to not having enough money to buy groceries.

The man convinced the woman to send him money by telling her he could not use his own bank accounts to move to the UK because of his notoriety, a police spokesperson said.

He promised to return the money but made numerous excuses for delaying his move.

'All too common'

The victim has struggled to accept what happened, police said, and she has since received help from social services.

The case was being investigated by Staffordshire Police and Action Fraud.

Simon Street, the force's protect and prepare co-ordinator, said these types of scams were "all too common".

"Fraudsters will take advantage of any information that may make you vulnerable to their advances, and this case was no different," he added.

"Unfortunately, the victim found it incredibly difficult to accept that she had been scammed, and so we liaised with partners to help her find the right support going forward."