In January 2017, an individual began a conversation with a woman, presenting himself as charming and knowledgeable about bitcoin. He suggested that she invest in cryptocurrency, claiming that wealthier individuals focus on investing rather than spending. He asserted that he lived in London, but upon conducting her own research, she discovered his actual residence was in Wales.
In September 2017, he reestablished contact after a summer absence, coinciding with the woman’s receipt of an inheritance for home renovations. As she operated an interior design business, this matter was significant to her. During their exchanges, he encouraged her to invest more money with him, stating that she could access investment earnings at any time. Despite her reservations, she initially invested £34,000, believing it would help her pay off her mortgage given bitcoin’s favorable performance.
By New Year’s Eve of that same year, she realized she had been scammed after he disappeared again, leading to considerable distress over the financial loss and feelings of betrayal towards her family. The woman reported the incident to law enforcement, which later confirmed that the individual had targeted multiple victims. However, she received an email in December 2023 informing her that her case was being closed due to a lack of evidence.
This scenario highlights the complexities and potential risks associated with online investments and interpersonal financial relationships.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/money/2025/nov/19/how-i-was-scammed-out-of-thousands-by-a-charming-man