Romance Scammers Targeting Seniors, Stealing Thousands

Romance scams continue to wreak havoc on victims, with stories emerging of individuals losing significant amounts of money to deceitful con artists. In one case, Lisa Lailey was scammed by James Starr, who pretended to be a US Marine and defrauded her of over £40,000 before being jailed for fraud and coercive control. Similarly, Katie Powell from Oregon was conned out of $40,000 by a man she met on Tinder, who used emotional manipulation to extract money from her over an extended period. Julia Simpson, a 68-year-old retiree, fell victim to a romance scammer on Match.com, who stole £22,000 after weaving a web of lies about his identity and financial troubles. Victims like Simpson share their experiences to raise awareness about the psychological damage these scams inflict and to caution others about the dangers of online dating. As romance scams proliferate, especially among older adults, the Federal Trade Commission reports a growing number of complaints, emphasizing the need for greater vigilance when engaging in online relationships.