Scots mum's 'life in ruins' after being conned out of £17,000 in romance scam

A Glasgow woman has said her life has been left “in ruins” after she was conned out of £17,000 by a person she met online.

Alison, whose name has been changed to protect anonymity, spoke out as Advice Direct Scotland urged people to remain vigilant in the run-up to Valentine’s Day.

The 57-year-old had recently suffered a family death when she connected with a man claiming to be an American professional on a website for women early last year.

After spending months speaking frequently and video calling, last May, the man told her he was travelling to Northern Ireland and suggested they meet.

“The app is designed so that women can make the first move, and after I ticked that I liked him, he messaged me,” she explained.

By August, he claimed his bank account had crashed and asked her for £17,000 to buy machinery for a job.

Alison said she initially refused but transferred the money after he sent his bank and passport details.

“He kept begging and showed me what looked like legitimate bank details and a passport, so I sent the money,” Alison added.

“He sent flight times and said he would sort his banking issues and then come to meet me.”

Soon after, he requested a further £7,000, claiming he was being held by customs and his passport had been taken.

“I said no, and he sent a voicemail saying he was being beaten and urgently needed the money to be released,” she said.

Alison contacted the police and informed the bank of the scam.

“I feel as if my life is in ruins, and I am just left in limbo.

“I feel so stupid, but I was just trying to do the right thing and be a good person by helping someone out.”

Alison shared that the scammer is still messaging her, but she has stopped responding and screenshots the messages for evidence.

She said the “nightmare” experience has taken a toll on her.

“I am not doing well mentally because of all this. I was in hospital recently with a suspected heart attack. It is a nightmare.”

Experts say fraudsters are now using female-focused dating apps to exploit and deceive women.

Advice Direct Scotland, which runs scamwatch.scot and consumeradvice.scot, is urging people to be extra cautious when speaking to potential partners online.

Scammers often use flattery and “love bombing”, showering people with compliments and declarations of love early on to build trust and create a strong emotional connection.

They may also resort to blackmail, using compromising pictures or videos to extort money or silence those they target.

It warned that fraudsters are skilled at manipulating situations to their advantage, adding that many victims feel “too scared or embarrassed” to ask for help but urged people to seek help if they suspect foul play.

Hazel Knowles, senior project lead at Advice Direct Scotland, said Valentine’s Day can be exploited by scammers who prey on people seeking romantic connections.

“Romance scams are a persistent issue throughout the year, but it is important to be particularly vigilant around Valentine’s Day,” she said.

“These fraudsters are always on the lookout for potential targets, using dating websites, social media, and other platforms to build trust and defraud people.”

She added that it is important to stay vigilant and approach online interactions cautiously.

“You should never share personal or financial information with someone you’ve only met virtually, and if you have any doubts about a person’s authenticity, carrying out thorough background checks is advisable,” she said.

She continued: “These scams can cause significant emotional and financial distress, leaving people feeling deceived and isolated.

“But it’s important to remember there is no shame in being scammed, and anyone who is worried or needs help can contact our specialist advisers for free, impartial, and practical advice.”