A woman was conned out of £69,000 by a catfish who posed as Wet Wet Wet singer Marti Pellow, tricking her into an online romance before turning threatening when she refused to send more money. The scam, which unfolded during the Covid-19 lockdown, is part of a rise in catfish fraud across Scotland, according to a new series by the Daily Record.
The Online Romance
Claire, a carer in her 40s living in England, first received a message from 'Marti' from Clydebank in May 2020, after she 'liked' one of Pellow's music videos on Instagram. The pair exchanged flirtatious messages, and the fraudster even sent nude pictures to build the romantic connection.
To convince her he was the singer, the scammer sent doctored pictures and videos, flowers, and a card signed 'Marti Pellow' to her home. He also shared images of a £940,000 house in Windsor, where the real Pellow lives, claiming he had bought it and needed extra funds for a deposit.
Financial Demands and Threats
Claire, who had money from the sale of a London house following a divorce, made multiple transfers totalling around £30,000 to bank accounts under false names between January and August 2021. The fraudster asked for more for a car, an engagement ring, and gifts on iTunes and Amazon, all adding up to £69,000.
When Claire refused to send more money, the messages turned sinister. In one exchange, the fraudster wrote: “I know you want me to end my life so you can move on with your new man, but trust me if I’m dying you Nd your son will die with me.” Another message said: “I will kill that p****, you Nd your son then end my life or go to jail.”
Investigation and Warning
Claire hired a private investigator and vowed to “fight to the end” to track down the fraudster. Emma Coles, director of Verity Henton Private Investigations Ltd, said they confirmed with a source close to the real Marti Pellow that none of the contact details used by the individual belonged to him. Coles added: “We would love to work further with the victim to dig deeper with more information to work on.”
Marti Pellow himself has warned fans about scammers, issuing a statement: “If you receive any direct messages from anyone on any social network or forum claiming to be 'Marti Pellow', please ignore this. I do not send out any direct messages on social media.” He urged fans to report those responsible. Claire plans to return to the investigator and gather more evidence before going to the police.
