Midlands Mother Left Homeless After Losing £250k to Celebrity Romance Scammers
A mother from the Midlands has been left homeless after selling her house and handing over more than £250,000 to sophisticated online fraudsters who impersonated celebrities including Hollywood actors and musicians.
Elaborate Two-Year Deception
Jennifer Barton, a 44-year-old NHS worker from Kidderminster, fell victim to an elaborate romance scam that unfolded over two years, with six different criminals working to manipulate her emotions and finances. The fraudsters posed as well-known figures including actors Alexander Ludwig and Charlie Hunnam, Westlife singer Nicky Byrne, and American country musician Michael Ray.
The mother-of-two explained how the imposters initially contacted her through social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram, before moving conversations to the more private Telegram messaging service. "People were reaching out saying they were celebrities like Alexander Ludwig and saying they wanted to meet," Jennifer revealed.
Manipulative Tactics and False Promises
The scammers employed various manipulative strategies to gain Jennifer's trust and extract money from her:
- Claiming to be going through complicated divorces and lacking access to their own funds
- Inventing emergencies including arrests, contract disputes, and robberies
- Making romantic declarations and promises of marriage and relocation to England
- Sending small gifts including a personalised mug and canvas portrait to appear genuine
"They all told me they loved me and wanted to marry me, wanted to come to England and be with me," Jennifer said, describing how the fraudsters exploited her emotional vulnerability.
Financial Devastation and Homelessness
The financial demands escalated dramatically over time, beginning with requests for £3,000 for supposed court fees within the first month of contact. Jennifer initially transferred £6,000 in cash and a further £6,000 in bitcoin to one impersonator.
The situation worsened when another fraudster posing as Alexander Ludwig convinced her to hand over more than £100,000, claiming he needed the money to "catch" the original scammer. The most devastating blow came when an impersonator of singer Michael Ray pressured her to sell her home and car.
"I sold the house and I spent all the money," Jennifer confessed. "I got £111,000 and then apart from a bit for a hotel and a hire car, the vast majority went on him." The fake singer had promised to transfer £140,000 to help her but instead completely drained her finances.
Aftermath and Warning to Others
Jennifer only realised the full extent of the deception just before Christmas when the fraudster persistently declined to meet in person. She is now living in a house of multiple occupancy (HMO) and awaiting emergency housing while trying to rebuild her life.
"I ran out of money, I'm currently homeless," she said. "For anyone facing anything similar, just reach out to family and friends. Especially if they're asking you for money."
In a heartbreaking admission, Jennifer explained the psychological hold the scammers had established: "There was an addictiveness, when someone gives you attention, even if it's a scammer, it's nice. They play on your feelings."
Official Response and Legal Action
Action Fraud has examined Jennifer's case through its Report Fraud Analysis Service at the City of London Police. The organisation confirmed the case would be reviewed based on information from new reports submitted until sufficient evidence is gathered for a potential prosecution.
Jennifer has engaged CEL Solicitors to help recover some of her lost funds. CEO Jessica Hampson commented: "Cases like this are much more common than people realise. It's easy to think something like this could never happen to us, but the truth is, those who prey on vulnerability are skilled at exploiting people's emotions and fears."
"They know how to manipulate trust, slowly wearing down people's defences. It's not just about money, it's about protecting your well-being, as the emotional toll of a scam can be just as devastating as the financial loss," Hampson added, highlighting the dual impact of such sophisticated fraud operations.
