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‘How I Was Duped By A Nigerian Love Scammer Who stole £200,000 From Me After We Met On Facebook’ – Woman

Published

2 months ago

July 12, 2025

A woman has told of being conned out of £200,000 by a romance scammer who bombarded her with gushing messages every day for two-and-a-half years.

Elizabeth, who is in her sixties and lives in rural England, handed over her life savings, took out a loan and remortgaged her home to meet the man’s ever increasing demands for money.

Sharing her story in public for the first time, she bravely revealed how she fell victim to an elaborate catfishing plot orchestrated by a fraudster posing as an oil industry consultant from Texas. In reality, the criminal was based in Nigeria and had stolen photos of a real man before concocting a string of crisis scenarios to trick the kindhearted mother of two. At one point, he even pretended he had a daughter who had lost her newborn baby.

During the whole period of the scam, he repeatedly promised to pay back the money and even delivered a fake cheque to her home for $1.832 million dollars.

Elizabeth, who did not want to give her real name for privacy reasons, said she ‘can’t believe’ she fell for his evil lies, but was vulnerable at the time after breaking up with a ‘toxic’ partner.

Hers is the latest account of the misery being caused by romance scammers, who conned British victims out of more than £88 million last year. While these have involved individuals from multiple countries, many cases are linked to Nigeria, which is known to host informal academies — known as ‘hustle kingdoms’ — which train individuals in the art of tricking vulnerable victims.

Elizabeth, who is now being assisted by the charity Victim Support, was first targeted in March 2022 while browsing a Facebook page dedicated to dogs. Her long-term relationship with a ‘toxic, gas-lighting partner’ had ended just months before.

‘I got talking to one of the members who asked if we could message each other outside the group on Skype,’ she told MailOnline. ‘He said he was having an issue with rabbits eating some plants he had bought for his daughter. I’m an empath who always wants to help people, so I looked on Amazon and found some mesh that he could use to keep the rabbits out.’

‘Days later, I got a photo showing the mesh being put up and a message saying “thank you so much”!’

After this ‘ordinary’ conversation, the scammer began sending Elizabeth messages several times a day. ‘We started talking about food so he would send recipes and photos of what he was eating,’ she said. ’He said he was divorced, worked as a consultant in the oil industry and had a boxer dog, which he sent me lots of photos of too.

‘At the time I was very vulnerable after coming out of this lengthy toxic relationship, so I guess I was an easy target. Each day he’d be messaging asking how I was and how my night had been. Having someone be kind and asking questions when I was in that frame of mind made me really open up!’

By July — five months after the scammer first approached her — he began ‘love-bombing’ Elizabeth by sending her photos of flowers and hearts. He would also play word games with her and speak about how desperate he was to meet up.

At one point, Elizabeth became suspicious when she noticed his Facebook profile said he had been to college in Nigeria — despite his claim to be American. But he batted away her concerns by claiming his profile had been changed by someone else. She was also confused when the scammer phoned her on Skype one day and she heard his Nigerian accent.

‘I said I was having real difficulty understanding him,’ Elizabeth said. ‘But because in my brain I had thought he was Texan and American I just assumed that was what he sounded like — which is mad with hindsight.’

At the height of the love-bombing campaign, Elizabeth said the man was messaging her several times a day and speaking of his ‘very strong feelings’ for her. She said that by August — after he had subjected her to half a year of relentless grooming — she began to think “gosh, I really like this guy”.

Delighted at what she thought was a budding romance, Elizabeth shared the news with her two best friends and two sons. ‘One of my friends asked me to promise him to never give him any money,’ she said. ‘My eldest son warned me that he sounded like a scammer and to watch Tinder Swindler. But I completely ignored him!’

It was around this time that the scammer began laying the groundwork for two of the stories he would use to squeeze money out of Elizabeth. One related to a new oil rig project the man said he had started in America after taking out a loan and remortgaging his house. The other related to his invented daughter, who he said had just split from her husband and was in desperate need of money. The scammer said he would have given this to her himself had he not just borrowed such a large sum of money.

He asked her to send £1,500 using iTunes gift cards, which can be transferred between people using a code. This is a popular method used by scammers, who then sell on the cards online at a discount.

‘It started in Autumn 2022 with me sending money for his daughter,’ Elizabeth said. ‘He then told me that a really expensive part of the rig had broken and he needed £10,000. I tried to send that via my bank but a man from the fraud department blocked it.’

‘The scammer said I should forget about all the money if it was causing me hassle. So for a few days I felt relieved, but then he came back and said I should use PayPal instead. He eventually got the money and said he was eternally grateful!’

The man invented a string of other scenarios to persuade Elizabeth to send him cash. By December 2022 she had pawned her late mother’s jewellery in a bid to help him — something that she said now makes her ‘sick to the pit of my stomach.’

The scammer’s behaviour showed a keen awareness of human psychology. He demonstrated this in March 2023, when he showered Elizabeth with sympathy and affection after one of her close relatives died. ‘The scammer appeared to be so kind and supportive — and the “empathy” he showed was unbelievable,’ she said.

‘He actually Facetimed me when I was driving but the call only lasted for two minutes. My sons now believe that was AI rather than him. I was in love with an image of someone who had been tailored to my specific needs. So I was totally brainwashed.’

Showing the depths he was prepared to plumb, the scammer even posed the death of his imaginary daughter’s baby. Elizabeth was subsequently sent emails from the ‘heartbroken mother’ asking for money. Another time, he posed as a doctor who wanted Elizabeth to help pay his medical bills after he had supposedly fallen seriously ill. Desperate to help, she would go on to take out a loan and remortgage her home.

Ironically, the documents relating to these transactions would prove crucial to extricating Elizabeth from the scam after one of her sons found them in her bedroom and staged an ‘intervention’ with his brother in August 2024.

Recalling the moment they confronted her, Elizabeth says: ‘They asked “what is this, what has gone on?” but I was very defensive initially.’

In an experience that was remarkably similar to Elizabeth’s, the scammer posed as a charming American oil-rig worker named ‘David West’. In reality, this photo shows an American doctor whose photo had been stolen.

Recalling the moment they confronted her, Elizabeth says: ‘They asked “what is this, what has gone on?” but I was very defensive initially.’

The man had repeatedly promised to pay Elizabeth back and went as far as forging a cheque for $1.832 million and having it delivered to her home via FedEx in October 2023. She said she presented this cheque to her sons as that the man was genuine, but they quickly realised it was a forgery.

‘My eldest Googled the address and saw it was a funeral home — it was also covered with biblical quotes,’ she said. ‘When the reality hit, I just went to pieces. I realised that I meant nothing to this man — if he even was a man — and I was just a means to an end. I was so blinkered and sucked in. You believe someone because you want to believe them and completely lose touch of reality.’

After realising she was the victim of a heartless scam, Elizabeth contacted the police and Action Fraud, the UK’s national fraud reporting centre for cyber-crime. Aided by her sons, a ‘fantastic’ Action Fraud caseworker and the charity Victim Support — which she described as a ‘life line’ — she was able to persuade her bank to pay her back two-thirds of the £200,000 she had lost.

Elizabeth was visited by a policewoman and gave a full account of what happened, but was told her case could not be pursued because the scammer lived outside the UK. She confronted the criminal on Skype, but he denied everything. Skype eventually agreed to block him and she has now deleted all the messages he sent her.

Looking back on the experience, Elizabeth says she ‘can’t believe’ she was taken in by the scam but urged onlookers not to judge.

‘You reflect on it and you can’t believe it was all a lie,’ she said. ‘I can’t believe that I did what I did. But if you’re not in that situation you won’t be able to relate to. If you haven’t walked my path then you can’t judge.’
(MailOnline/TRIBUNE)

Headline

Nigerians Who Have Broken Guinness World Records

Published

6 hours ago

September 13, 2025

Editor

Over the years, Nigerians have made their mark on the global stage by setting and breaking Guinness World Records across diverse fields.

Here are ten Nigerians who have earned a place in the Guinness World Records:

1. Hilda Baci – Longest Cooking Marathon

Celebrity chef Hilda Baci captured national and international attention in May 2023 after cooking for 100 hours, setting the Guinness World Record for the longest cooking marathon by an individual. Though her record was later surpassed, Baci has remained at the forefront of culinary challenges.

At the time of writing this report, Baci is attempting to cook the largest pot of Jollof rice in collaboration with a food brand.

2. Tunde Onakoya – Longest Chess Marathon

Chess master and founder of Chess in Slums Africa, Tunde Onakoya, etched his name in history on April 17, 2025, after playing non-stop chess for 64 hours in New York, USA. His successful attempt came a year after an earlier effort, which, though unsuccessful in breaking the record, raised over $100,000 for his charity initiative. The 64-hour duration was symbolic, representing the total number of squares on a chessboard.

3. Ojumola Bello – Longest Acting Marathon

Nollywood actress
Ojumola Bello made history in September 2024 when she completed 139 hours and 19 minutes of non-stop acting. The marathon, held at Pent View Hotel in Ikorodu, ran from September 22 to 27, making her the first Nigerian actress to secure such a feat in the global records.

4. Helen Williams – Longest Handmade Wig

Helen Williams is a professional wig maker based in Lagos who turned her craft into a world-class achievement. At just 31, she entered the Guinness World Records in July 2023 with the longest handmade wig, measuring 351.28 metres longer than the Eiffel Tower. Her record reflects not only skill and creativity but also Nigeria’s growing influence in the global beauty and fashion industry.

5. Divine Ikubor (REMA)

Divine Ikubor, professionally known as Rema, is a Nigerian Afrobeats star whose global rise has redefined the country’s music scene. In May 2023, he made history as the first artist to top the MENA charts, earning a Guinness World Records title. His breakout hit Calm Down, released on February 11, 2022, quickly became one of the fastest songs to surpass 100 million streams on Spotify, cementing his status as one of Africa’s most influential young artists.

6. Kafayat Oluwatoyin Shafau – Longest Dance Party

Kafayat Oluwatoyin Shafau, popularly known as Kaffy, is Nigeria’s most celebrated dancer, choreographer, and fitness coach. She rose to international fame in 2006 after leading a team to break the Guinness World Record for the longest dance party during the Nokia Silverbird Danceathon. Today, she remains a trailblazer in the entertainment industry and a role model for young African performers.

7. Wizkid – One Billion Streams

Ayodeji Balogun, popularly known as Wizkid, one of Nigeria’s most internationally recognized musicians, came to the Guinness World Record spotlight when he featured on Drake’s hit single One Dance, which became the first track to surpass one billion streams on Spotify. The song was released on December 16, 2016.

One Dance marked a significant moment in global music, further solidifying Wizkid’s place in the international music scene. With the song, Wizkid became the first Afrobeats artist to achieve one billion streams on Spotify.

8. Lucy Ejike – Heaviest Powerlifter

Lucy Ejike is a decorated Nigerian Paralympian and one of the country’s most celebrated powerlifters. She made history at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games by lifting 142 kg in the -61 kg category, setting a Guinness World Record for the heaviest powerlift by a female athlete in that division. Her dominance in the sport stretches back to the Athens 2004 Paralympics, where her 127.5 kg lift in the -44 kg class secured gold and established a record that still stands today.

9. Fela Kuti – Most Studio Albums Recorded By A Solo Artist

Fela Anikulapo Kuti, the legendary Afrobeat pioneer, holds a Guinness World Records title for the most studio albums recorded by a solo artist. Between 1969 and 1992, he released 46 albums over a 23-year career, leaving behind a body of work that continues to shape global music and political activism.

10. Adeoye Ajibola – Paralympic Athletes

Adeoye Ajibola, a Nigerian Paralympic sprinter, made history at the 1992 Barcelona Paralympic Games when he ran the men’s 100 metres in 10.72 seconds. Competing in the T46 classification for athletes with limb impairments, he set a Guinness World Records mark and remains celebrated as one of Nigeria’s greatest Paralympic athletes.

11. Joy Onaolapo – Paralympic powerlifter

Joy Onaolapo was a Nigerian Paralympic powerlifter who delivered an unforgettable performance at the London 2012 Games. On September 1, she won a gold medal in the women’s -52 kg category after lifting 131 kg, a feat that secured her place in the Guinness World Records, among Nigeria’s sporting legends and inspired future generations of para-athletes.

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What To Know About Albania’s AI Minister, Diella

Published

6 hours ago

September 13, 2025

Editor

Albania’s government has introduced Diella, an AI-generated virtual cabinet member tasked with public procurement. A world-first move that’s already drawing big praise and big questions.

Nigerian Tribune reports that Prime Minister Edi Rama unveiled Diella on Friday as a virtual member of the government, describing her as a cabinet member “not present physically but created virtually,” adding that she would help ensure public tenders remain free of corruption while making government operations more efficient and transparent.

Below are ten most important, sourced facts and the key open questions to watch out for.

1. Diella as an AI

Diella is a computer system presented as an animated avatar (shown in traditional Albanian dress) and introduced by Prime Minister Edi Rama as a cabinet “member” created by AI rather than a flesh-and-blood minister.

2. Official role and timing

The government
appointed Diella to take responsibility for public procurement when the new cabinet was presented in mid-September 2025. The announcement was made by Prime Minister Edi Rama.

3. Where Diella came from

Diella evolved from a virtual assistant on the government e-Albania portal (AKSHI’s platform). The system was developed by Albania’s National Agency for Information Society (AKSHI) and expanded into a cabinet-level AI.

4. What the government promises

Officials say Diella will make public procurement “100% free of corruption” by removing political discretion from awarding tenders and applying algorithmic decision-making. That is the reform pitch from PM Rama.

5. Legal and constitutional controversy

The appointment has sparked immediate debate. The presidency and opposition have expressed concern about constitutionality and who is accountable for ministerial decisions; some opposition figures have called the move political theatre.

6. Practical authority and human oversight unclear

Reports say procurement responsibilities are intended to be transferred gradually, but the government has not (publicly) published the full operational rules, human-in-the-loop safeguards, or the audit framework that would show who can override or audit Diella’s decisions.

That lack of detail is a major practical question.

7. Tech partnerships and the avatar

News reports say Diella was developed by Albania’s AI lab at AKSHI and Associated Press reports mention collaboration with Microsoft; the avatar’s likeness and voice have also been linked to a local actress in public reporting.

8. Innovation vs. democratic/ethical worries.

Domestic and international reaction is mixed. Supporters call it bold tech innovation to fight endemic corruption; critics warn about democratic accountability, potential for hidden biases, and the optics of “putting AI in power.” International outlets have also shown interest in how Diella will be deployed and analysts are watching closely.

9. Top technical and governance risks to watch

Key risks flagged by observers: how decisions will be explained to losing bidders; whether procurement datasets contain historical bias; who is responsible if the system is manipulated or hacked; and whether legal frameworks allow algorithmic substitution for political decision-making.

These issues drive both legal challenges and practical audit needs.

Headline

Israel-Palestine Conflict: Nigeria, 141 Countries Endorse Two-State Solution

Published

12 hours ago

September 13, 2025

Editor

Nigeria on Friday joined 141 other countries to endorse New York Declaration on two-State solution between Israel and Palestine at the UN headquarters in New York.

Applause rang out in the UN General Assembly Hall as countries endorsed the declaration on the peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine and implementation of the two-State solution with Israel.

The New York Declaration is the outcome of an international conference held in July at UN Headquarters, organised by France and Saudi Arabia, which resumes later this month.

The General Assembly comprises all 193 UN Member States and 142 countries voted in favour of a resolution backing the document.

Israel voted against it, alongside nine other countries: Argentina, Hungary, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Tonga and the United States, while 12 nations abstained.

Prior to the vote, French Ambassador Jérôme Bonnafont recalled that the New York Declaration “lays out a single roadmap to deliver the two-State solution”.

This involves an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, release of all hostages held there, and the establishment of a Palestinian State that is both viable and sovereign.

The roadmap further calls for the disarmament of Hamas and its exclusion from governance in Gaza, normalisation between Israel and the Arab countries, as well as collective security guarantees.

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‘How I Was Duped By A Nigerian Love Scammer Who stole £200,000 From Me After We Met On Facebook’ – Woman

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‘How I Was Duped By A Nigerian Love Scammer Who stole £200,000 From Me After We Met On Facebook’ – Woman

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