I was duped into sending him money: He made me think he cared about me...

ROMANCE fraud is costing Leicestershire people nearly a million pounds a year – just counting the victims who turn to police after falling for the lies of their online loves.

In one recent case, a 43-year-old Leicestershire woman fell in love with a man she met online only to have her heart broken when he took £40,000 she lent him and disappeared.

The woman lost her entire life savings, as well as much of her selfrespect.

After having to take early retirement on health grounds, she began looking for a relationship on the internet.

About 18 months ago she met a man who said his name was Mike and that he was originally from Leicester, but was currently in the Army and serving in Nigeria.

The woman, who did not want to be named, said: “He made the first move and, of course, I was flattered.

“We spoke via Messenger or WhatsApp mainly and it felt like we had something. He told me he wanted to be with me and he dropped in familiar place names so I felt like he was telling the truth and we had things in common.

“He complimented me all the time and made me feel good about myself.

“We would message a normal amount – sometimes three or four messages a day. He didn’t bombard me. He told me he was waiting for some kind of inheritance but that he was struggling for money and in debt until he received it.

“Eventually he told me he wanted to marry me.

“That’s when he asked send him money.

“At first it was only a small amount – £40 – and I was more than happy to help him.

“I sent it via bank transfer to someone he told me was an Army agent.

“I believed him because I didn’t know how easy it was to access money when you’re in the Army and abroad.

“Then the amounts grew bigger, but by then I was so in love with him, I would do anything to keep him happy and he always told me he would pay me back. It was just a case of waiting for his inheritance.” if

I could

Throughout their period of contact, the woman ended up sending him nearly £40,000.

She took out three bank loans that she secured online and gave him all of her life savings, despite only speaking to him about six times over the telephone.

She said: “He always said it was difficult because of his work but by then I had been completely sucked into his lies.”

Mike also put her in contact with a woman pretending to be the fiancee of another soldier Mike knew.

She said: “There was always plausible explanation for things.

“But I was getting frustrated and

athen I ran out of money and he still kept asking for more.

“Now I can see how I was duped into sending him money. He made me think he cared about me but really all he cared about was the cash.

“I feel like if it can happen to me, it can happen to anyone.

“You usually think of romance fraud targeting someone much older, but clearly that wasn’t the case.

“This whole episode has knocked my confidence massively. “I feel so angry that there are people out there who do this, so I hope my story can act as a warning to others not to believe everything someone is telling you and to look out for the warning signs and check out what they’re saying.”

To make matters worse, finding the culprit is often very difficult.

In the past year, about 130 Leicestershire victims had lost money in romance frauds, with their losses totalling about £916,000, according to police.

The 43-year-old woman’s case being investigated.

Nicole McIntyre, from the police’s Economic Crime Unit, said: “All too often we see situations like this where a persuasive and convincing criminal is involved.

“I hope that what happened to her will act as a warning to others about the dangers of dating fraud.

“There are people out there who seek to prey on others and steal their money.

“Victims often feel guilty or ashamed, but it’s important to remember that these fraudsters are running an organised crime which they are very practised in.

“If this sounds familiar to you or you know a friend or relative who might be in a similar situation, raise the alarm bell and get in touch with either Action Fraud or call police on 101.” is