New victim in web date scam (From The Northern Echo) - The Northern Echo
New victim in web date scam
8:00am Thursday 1st September 2011
FRAUDSTERS using locations in the region for an international lonely hearts scam have claimed another victim who has told how she has been left "shamed and broke".
A 56-year-old woman from Finland has revealed how she lost more than 17,500 after being contacted on an on-line dating site by a man claiming to be a British businessman called Steve Fields.
The nurse paid out the money after the man claimed his software company had won a big contract in Cyprus but needed cash to secure the deal.
Fake documents were provided suggesting the businessman had almost 250,000 euros in his account to cover the debt.
A repayment agreement was produced supposedly by Ronald Cook, from Gilstar Solicitors.
The company claims to have an office in Durham City, but exists only as a website created by the fraudsters.
The woman said the fraud had left her feeling depressed and in need of therapy.
She said: "My family relationships are almost broken - I dont want to see anybody because of the shame.
"This is to biggest crisis in my whole life - both economically and emotionally. Nobody has never ever, in my whole life, lied to me as much as Steve did."
The Northern Echo has exposed a string of frauds committed by well-organised criminals who prey on men and women who use internet dating sites.
It has already emerged how a retired IT consultant from Austria paid out more than 50,000 in the belief he was helping a young female artist who had fallen on hard times.
The scammers have created a number of bogus websites, false email addresses and fake documents which they use to convince their victims that they are genuine.
Most of the websites have links to Darlington and Durham City.
One website features a bogus hospital in Hurworth, near Darlington.
Another advertises a fake luxury hotel in Darlington - which tellingly offers sea-view rooms for up to 200 a night.
The name of solicitor Ronald Cook appears in all of the scams.
It is believed the images used by the fraudsters are of genuine people whose photographs have been copied without their knowledge.
It is thought the frauds are being committed by criminal gangs in West Africa, probably Nigeria.
UK police have declined to investigate.
Read these News stories
Comments
Post a Comment