British
Retiree Loses Life Savings in Kenyan Romance Scam Gone Wrong
A retired British man has opened up about a
devastating romance scam that left him homeless and nearly penniless after he
trusted a woman he believed to be his future wife.
At 69 years old, the man—who previously worked
for the United Nations—found himself vulnerable after the loss of his wife
Pauline in 2019. While grieving, he connected online with a woman who
introduced herself as Anita, supposedly based in Kenya. The introduction
came through a friend he had met years earlier while working in Nairobi, giving
the interaction an air of credibility.
Over the course of their digital relationship,
which blossomed into what he thought was genuine love, Anita convinced him to
prepare for marriage. Believing her, he wired a total of £85,000 (about Ksh14.5
million) to help her set up a home for them in Nairobi. Confident they were
about to start a life together; he booked a flight to Kenya. But when he
arrived, Anita was nowhere to be found.
From
Wedding Dreams to Living on the Streets
After being ghosted and realizing he had been
duped, he returned to the UK broken and broke. With nowhere to go, he spent
several weeks sleeping in shelters and on the streets in towns like Woking and
Guildford.
Now settled in a modest shared flat in
Staines-upon-Thames, he survives on his pension, often ending the month with
barely £20 left for essentials.
“I’ve lost everything. There’s nothing left.
My quality of life has collapsed, and the future feels bleak,” he said during
an emotional interview with the BBC.
“Sometimes I don’t even want to think
about it because it just hurts too much.”
Victim
Blames Banks for Lack of Safeguards
Although he acknowledges that he ignored red
flags, he places part of the blame on his banks, accusing them of failing to
step in when the transaction pattern should’ve triggered concern.
“They told me it was my own fault, and yes, I
was naïve. But I’m also a victim,” he insisted. “I expected more protection.
The systems in place just don’t do enough to prevent this kind of fraud.”
Online Love
Scams on the Rise
His case is one of many. According to 2024
data, romance scams have surged across England and Wales. In just four years,
reported cases have increased by more than 60%, climbing from 4,842 in 2019 to
7,660 in 2023.
Cybersecurity experts warn that online dating
and social media platforms have become hotspots for this type of fraud. Victims
often fall prey because the scammers are skilled at emotional manipulation,
often taking months to build trust before making financial requests.
As heartbreaking as this story is, it
highlights a growing crisis around online romance scams—especially targeting
those in emotionally vulnerable situations. The man’s story serves as a
cautionary tale for anyone engaging in digital relationships, particularly
across borders.
If you're dating online, always verify
identities, avoid sending money, and consult friends or family before making
serious commitments.
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