Widow Scammed Out of £10,000 by Ruthless Online Romance Fraudster
A South Yorkshire widow has been left penniless and heartbroken after losing over £10,000 to a cold-hearted romance scammer. Jane*, 61, from Rotherham, shared her cautionary tale as South Yorkshire Police back a national campaign warning of the rising threat of online romance fraud.
Lonely Widow Lured In on Facebook by Fake ‘Darren’
Jane first met the fraudster on Facebook. He called himself Darren and claimed to work in construction in the US. Feeling isolated after losing her husband five years ago, Jane accepted his friend request and quickly began chatting.
“He told me, ‘I’ll be here for you, you can always talk to me,'” Jane said. “He said all the things I wanted to hear. I thought he was genuine and that we’d soon meet.”
Darren urged Jane to switch to WhatsApp, making his scam harder to detect thanks to stronger encryption. The trouble started when he asked for £50 to cover a supposed plane ticket contribution for his visit. Weeks later, he demanded £100 for “airport fees.”
From Small Sums to a £10,300 Loss
The requests snowballed. Over months, Jane sent a total of £10,300, draining her entire inheritance from her late mother. The last message claimed Darren was stranded in a liverpool/" title="Liverpool" data-wpil-keyword-link="linked">Liverpool hotel without money. Jane sent a final £500 before the messages stopped.
Despite her family’s warnings, Jane didn’t suspect the con until her son convinced her to report the scam to Action Fraud.
“I didn’t want anyone interfering—I thought I’d found someone special,” Jane admitted. “My son said if he did this to me, he’d do it to others too.”
Devastating Impact: Struggling to Survive After Scam
Jane’s life has been shattered by the fraud. She now struggles to pay bills and buy food, relying on her son and the local food bank. The stress has taken a toll, causing severe weight loss and sleepless nights.
South Yorkshire Police have visited Jane, offering support and linking her with local aid groups.
“Be careful,” Jane warns others. “As soon as they ask for money, just say you haven’t got it. I wish I’d done that. I feel stupid—I got sucked in.”
How to Protect Yourself from Romance Scams
- If you suspect you’re a victim, report it immediately to Action Fraud at 0300 123 2040 or online at www.actionfraud.police.uk.
- Learn the warning signs and protect yourself at Action Fraud’s romance fraud campaign.
