One of Britain's most prolific romance fraudsters has been exposed after attempting to meet his next victim mere days following his release from a seventh jail term. Raymond McDonald, a serial offender with 58 convictions primarily for fraud and theft, has stolen thousands of pounds from women through deceitful promises of fake weddings and holidays.
Swift Return to Criminal Activity
After being released on license in November, McDonald wasted no time in signing up to dating apps, aiming to locate his next target. By December 3, his profile was discovered on the online dating platform Badoo by a BBC reporter. The journalist posed as a mother of two named Kaye, who claimed to be new to dating apps, and successfully matched with McDonald.
Deceptive Offers and False Promises
During their interactions, McDonald offered to split the cost of a handbag for Kaye's daughter, Lauren, who was going through a breakup. He also proposed using his van to assist with moving and suggested she could stay at his lodge. Furthermore, he hinted at a potential 'wedding in Vegas' and encouraged her to purchase items from a friend of his.
Reporter Philippa Goymer, acting as Kaye, arranged a meeting with McDonald for a supposed date. Upon approaching him at the agreed location, she said, 'It's Rob, isn't it?' He replied, 'Yeh,' before noticing her microphone and the accompanying camera crew. Goymer then questioned, 'It's not Rob though, is it? It's Ray, or are you Mark today?' McDonald claimed he was using the dating apps solely to seek friendship.
Arrest and Return to Prison
Just five days after this encounter, on December 15, McDonald was arrested. A spokesperson for HM Prison & Probation Service confirmed he was returned to prison for violating the conditions of his license. McDonald, originally from County Durham, was discharged from the army in August 2000 and briefly worked in a supermarket and at a factory packing chickens.
A History of Fraud and Incarceration
McDonald received his first prison sentence in 2003, followed by a suspended sentence four years later, and four additional jail stints. After being released during a term imposed in 2019, he immediately began scamming another woman, leading to his recall to prison. He is regarded as one of Britain's most notorious romance fraudsters, having stolen substantial sums through false declarations of love.
Trauma Inflicted on Victims
Several women have described to the BBC the severe emotional trauma McDonald caused them. One victim recounted meeting him through a dating site, where he falsely claimed to be working over Christmas in a secretive military role training foreign soldiers, while expressing a desire to stay in touch during the festive season.
The woman reflected, '(He) just made you feel, I don't know, wanted. Special. I hadn't been in a relationship for such a long time. I suppose in hindsight, it was what I wanted to hear.' However, it later emerged that McDonald was simultaneously forming relationships with multiple women, arranging meetings and telling them he was newly divorced and starting a new job.
Manipulative Tactics Exposed
One woman alleged that McDonald told her he needed to be on shift at the probation service in the evenings, when in reality, he was reporting himself to probation. All the women who came forward initially described him as warm, genuine, and even vulnerable. Yet, amidst these interactions, he was extracting money from them for things that never materialised.
Dating Platform's Response
A spokesperson for Badoo stated, 'We work closely with law enforcement and maintain dedicated channels for them to share information about individuals who are banned from using dating apps due to court orders or parole restrictions. Anyone found to be attempting to defraud or manipulate members will be restricted or banned from the app.'
