Germany – A 78-year-old widower lost over €12,000 in a romance scam, warning others after discovering the woman he fell for was a complete fiction.
The victim, who wrote to the editor after reading an article on the topic, described how a message on a dating platform led to months of emotional manipulation. The profile belonged to “Jennifer,” a supposed nurse from Houston, Texas. The man sent money after she claimed a car accident, a mother’s hospitalization, and unpaid rent.
“I sent the money via Western Union. I thought it was the least I could do.”
He transferred a total of €12,000 – his entire savings.
The deception unraveled when a friend sent a link to a website about romance scams. The man uploaded one of “Jennifer’s” photos and discovered it belonged to a deceased American actress. Further checks showed the phone number originated from Lagos, Nigeria, not Houston.
“I stared at my kitchen table for hours. Not from anger. From shame.”
The 78-year-old said he had always believed such scams only happened to foolish people. He called himself “experienced enough to recognize it” but fell victim to a months-long lie orchestrated by a man overseas.
“Everything was staged. From a man sitting at the other end of the world, waiting for me to make the next transfer.”
He shared his story not for pity, but as a warning:
“If someone you have never met in person asks for money – no matter how real the story sounds, no matter how much you feel, no matter how long you’ve been writing – then it is fraud. Always. There is no exception.”
His name is known to the editor.