Nottingham Romance Fraudster Jailed for Ripping Off Woman £157,000
Conman Used Fake Identity to Swindle Vulnerable Woman
Frank Adozi, 32, conned a Nottinghamshire woman out of a whopping £157,000 using the fake name “Mark McCarthy”. He contacted her through a dating site and social media, striking up a relationship while she was vulnerable after a recent breakup.
Pretending to work on an oil rig, Adozi spun tales about losing the wrong bank card and urgently needing cash for travel and to send money to his “daughter”. Over two months, the woman made 34 transfers, believing she’d get the money back to buy a new house.
Multiple Women Duped by Smooth-Talking Fraudster
After the victim uncovered his lies last May and alerted police, Adozi was already a suspect. He was arrested in January 2022 for unrelated driving offences but soon exposed for his romance scams. Mobile phone checks revealed he targeted at least six other women, with four also sending him money.
- One victim lost nearly £2,000 after being told he lived near West Bridgford" data-wpil-keyword-link="linked">West Bridgford and drove a Range Rover.
- Others were scammed out of £1,430, £520, and £40 with fake stories about taxi fares and flights.
Victims described him as “sweet-talking” and “genuine”, lured in by his charm and bogus backstory.
Lavish Lifestyle Built on Victims’ Cash
Records show Adozi splashed out on designer clothes, a luxury Range Rover, and expensive jewellery, planning to launch a business with stolen funds. He previously served a four-and-a-half year prison sentence for similar fraud before being released in 2020.
Justice Served – Four Years Behind Bars
At Nottingham Crown Court on 1 April 2022, Adozi pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation and was sentenced to four years in jail.
Detective Constable Carl Miller slammed the “callous” fraudster: “He had no regard for his victims, exploiting their trust to steal thousands. This is one of the worst romance frauds we’ve seen — the victim lost £157,000, money she was saving for a house.”
“We urge anyone who suspects they’ve been duped to come forward. Romance fraud is vicious and causes terrible emotional pain alongside financial loss.”
Top Tips to Avoid Romance Scams
- Keep personal info private on dating sites.
- Stay on the dating site’s messaging system until you meet face-to-face.
- Don’t send money to anyone you haven’t met in person — no matter how convincing they seem.
- Report suspected fraud to ActionFraud.police.uk.
With nearly £92 million lost to romance fraud in the UK last year, staying alert could save your heart and your wallet.
