83-Year-Old Widow Swindled Of £20,000 By Online Romance Scammer

83-Year-Old Widow Swindled Of £20,000 By Online Romance Scammer

An 83-year-old resident of Oldham, Greater Manchester, has been conned out of over £20,000 by an online romance scammer she encountered while playing Scrabble on the internet…..READ ALSO

Authorities revealed that the widow was deceived by an individual posing as a 60-year-old American millionaire widower, who claimed he would travel to the United Kingdom to offer her a chance at love after her husband passed away several years ago.

The scammer initially built rapport with the elderly woman through the word game, eventually persuading her to continue their conversations on a different platform, where their relationship grew more intense and requests for money ensued.

On various occasions, the fraudster fabricated stories, such as urgently needing funds for his daughter’s leg operation or to cover his bail in Istanbul, Turkey, following an alleged arrest. He even sent a forged letter purportedly from the United Nations, falsely claiming he was incarcerated.

Over an 18-month period, the elderly victim, who is also a pensioner, sent more than £20,000 before realizing she had fallen victim to fraud. She confided in her brother, who promptly reported the incident to Action Fraud upon the advice of Greater Manchester Police (GMP).

The woman’s brother expressed frustration, stating, “The scammers are very cunning. They target platforms like online Scrabble because they know they can find older women with some savings.”

He continued, “There have been numerous scams targeting my sister, but I believe it’s either the same person or a group operating from somewhere in Nigeria.”

The victim’s brother, who now holds power of attorney, assists her bank in investigating suspicious transactions. Despite efforts, the scammer or scammers remain unidentified.

He cautioned, “Everyone should exercise caution if contacted by strangers online. I shudder to think what might have happened if my wife and I hadn’t intervened. The scammers could have emptied her account, leaving her with nothing.”

Detective Sergeant Stacey Shannon from GMP’s economic crime unit urged vigilance, stating, “Unfortunately, this story is not uncommon, and many individuals fall victim to such scams. I hope this experience will prompt other victims to recognize what is happening and encourage them to report it.