A 67-year-old woman who lost over £100,000 in a romance scam has spoken out, revealing how she was groomed by a fraudster over two and a half years. Elizabeth, a former travel industry worker who speaks three languages, emptied her savings, pawned her late mother's jewellery, and took out bank loans for a man she met online named 'Sam', who never existed.
The scam began on a Facebook dog site when 'Sam' messaged her about rabbits eating his daughter's plants. Their rapport grew quickly, with Sam sending photos, poems, and memes. Elizabeth said she 'opened up like a giant elevator' about her vulnerabilities, including leaving an abusive partner of 37 years. Over time, she sent money for Amazon vouchers, oil rig parts, medical bills, and his daughter's escape from an abusive marriage.
The fraud ended in August when Elizabeth's adult sons confronted her. She felt shock, shame, anger, and grief, saying: 'I was mourning a person that didn't exist.' Lloyds Bank reports a 52% rise in romance scams among over-55s, with over £106m lost in the UK last year. Criminologist Dr Elisabeth Carter says such fraud is akin to grooming, distorting victims' reality until decisions seem rational.
Elizabeth now laughs at the absurdity of the stories she believed, but warns others: 'If I didn't laugh, I'd never stop crying.' She hopes her story helps victims understand they are not at fault, but expertly manipulated.
