Online Love Scam Leaves 57-Year-Old Woman Penniless And Homeless; Loses Rs 4.3 Crore

A 57-year-old woman from Perth, Annette Ford, has been left without a home after losing over Rs 4.3 crore ($780,000) to online scammers, according to an NDTV report. She is now couch-surfing in Western Australia, hoping to secure affordable housing while the fraudsters remain at large.

Ford's troubles began after her 33-year-long marriage ended in 2018. Looking for companionship, she joined a dating site called "Plenty of Fish" and started chatting with a man named 'William'. Over several months, William gained her trust before asking for financial help.

He claimed he was in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where his wallet had been stolen, and requested Rs 2,75,000 ($5000) to cover immediate expenses. Ford, believing his story, transferred the money.

"He said he had been mugged outside his work site, and they took his wallet and cards," she recalled.

Soon after, William claimed to be in hospital and needed another $5,000 for medical expenses. Ford covered the bill, believing she was helping someone in distress. The requests did not stop there. He later asked for money to pay a hotel bill and cover wages for his workers, stating that he had no access to his bank cards.

By the time Ford realised she was being scammed, she had already lost Rs 1.6 crore ($300,000) from her retirement savings. She reported the fraud to the Australian Federal Police but never received any updates on her case.

Falling Victim Again

Four years later, Ford encountered another scammer through Facebook, this time a man named 'Nelson'. He claimed to be from Amsterdam and told her he had a friend in the FBI who needed $2,500 for an investigation.

Initially hesitant, she was convinced to deposit money he sent her into a Bitcoin ATM. Before she knew it, large sums were moving in and out of her account, and she ultimately lost another Rs 1.5 crore ($2,80,000).

Having lost everything, Ford is now warning others to be cautious of online scammers. "They say all the right things, they sweep you off your feet, but they're going to take your money and leave you broke," she said.

Her case is not unique. Last month, a British woman was tricked out of Rs 98.5 lakh (£92,300) by a friend of 20 years who ran a catfishing scam against her. Authorities continue to advise people to remain vigilant while engaging in online relationships.