Gill is now a retired nurse who had been single for over eight years, nevertheless in 2018 she got a random Facebook message from a person who used a fake identity and alias ‘Michael Roberts’. They began a relationship and he or she eventually sent him over £3,000.
She said: “I used to be living alone, my life revolved around work and sleep. It was good to have any individual to refer to.”
On the BBC programme For Love or Money, Kym Marsh and Ashley John-Baptiste uncovered the reality in regards to the so-called Michel Roberts in an effort to assist Gill draw a line under the horrific online romance fraud she had fallen victim to.
Gill explained that Michael claimed he was a physician from Latest York with a 13 yr old son. Over time they grew closer and shared personal details about their lives. He told Gill he was falling for her.
After a month of talking, the primary request got here in.
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She said: “He had problems along with his bank and getting through to his account because it had been blocked.
“He said that his son’s birthday was coming up and asked if I could send a present card for him.”
Gill agreed to send an Amazon gift card value £100. This was the primary of many gift cards. She sent around £700 value of them.
As time went on, Michael asked Gill to return to America to see him in order that they could start a recent life together. He told her that he would have the opportunity to get her a visa for £3,000.
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She said: “I sent him every part I had. Each penny.”
On the time, Gill was so excited to see him that she used her wages so as to add on the £3,000, nevertheless this was money she needed for rent, bills and food.
But after some time, she realised something was incorrect as she never received the visa.
Fearful she was being scammed, she cut contact with Michael. Nevertheless she continued to be bombarded by requests from him and those who physically looked just like the man in the images.
“It’s infuriating,” Gill said.
Whilst Michael claimed he was in America, him and Gill incessantly spoke on the phone, nevertheless Ashley revealed that the number that Michael used to talk to her was based within the UK.
When checked out the number, it had been repeatedly identified as a scam call.
He also found that the scammer was using fake photographs of another person online and posing as ‘Michael Roberts’. The pictures were linked to many fake accounts.
In shock, Gill said: “No, you’ve just blown me away. It’s not fairly often I’m speechless. I feel like I’ve been hit by a concrete slab or something because they’ve invaded my life and destroyed my confidence. They took a component of me away.”
For Love or Money is accessible on BBC iPlayer.
