TL;DR: PA reported on February 12, 2025 that a Northern Ireland man lost more than £200,000 between 2020 and 2022 to a woman he met on a dating website. She claimed she needed legal fees to unlock a wealthy grandmother's will and medical bills after a car crash. After he reported it to police and worked with his bank, the money was “recovered in its entirety”.
What happened
According to PA, via the Express & Star, a man from Northern Ireland met a woman on a dating website. The fraud ran for about two years, from 2020 to 2022. They spoke on the phone a few times but never met in person.
The stories she used
- She said she had a wealthy grandmother and needed thousands for legal fees linked to the will.
- She said she had been in a car crash and needed money for medical bills.
- To show she could repay him, she sent a link to what police believe was a fake online banking page.
He lost more than £200,000, was left in debt and under severe strain. He said it “almost destroyed my life.”
The rare good ending
He reported the fraud to police and worked with his bank. Following inquiries, the money was “recovered in its entirety”. Full recovery is unusual, which is why reporting quickly matters; see how UK banks reimburse APP scam losses and our guide to next steps after a romance scam.
Northern Ireland figures
The Police Service of Northern Ireland received 127 romance scam reports in 2024, with a total reported loss of £1,083,007; individual losses ranged from hundreds of pounds to more than £100,000. Superintendent Joanne Gibson, chair of the ScamwiseNI Partnership, called romance fraud a “devastating and cruel form of deception”. See also our post on £866,700 lost to romance fraud in Northern Ireland in ten months.
Red flags
- An inheritance that needs your money to “unlock” it.
- Accidents and medical bills from someone you have never met.
- Screenshots or links “proving” a bank balance. Fake banking pages are easy to build.
- Phone calls but no meeting, over years.
Report to Report Fraud or the PSNI on 101, and call your bank straight away. See our UK reporting guide and run our free email exposure check.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did the man lose?
More than £200,000 between 2020 and 2022, according to PA.
Did he get the money back?
Yes. After he reported it to police and worked with his bank, the money was recovered in its entirety.
What stories did the scammer use?
Legal fees to unlock a wealthy grandmother's will, and medical bills after a car crash.
How many romance scams were reported in Northern Ireland in 2024?
127, with a total reported loss of £1,083,007, according to the PSNI.
Sources
- Express & Star (PA): Man who lost £200,000 in romance scam urges others to be cautious (Feb 12, 2025)
- Report Fraud