Home / Crime and Justice / NHS worker loses £250k to celebrity scammers
NHS worker loses £250k to celebrity scammers
29 Jan
Summary
- Mother of two lost her house and car to online fraudsters.
- Scammers impersonated Hollywood celebrities for money.
- The victim is now homeless and has run out of funds.
Jennifer Barton, a mother of two and NHS worker, has been left homeless after being defrauded of £250,000 by individuals posing as Hollywood celebrities on social media. Over a two-year period, Ms. Barton was manipulated by six different scammers who claimed to be stars such as Alexander Ludwig and Charlie Hunnam.
The fraudsters initiated contact on platforms like Instagram and Telegram, fabricating stories of financial hardship due to divorces or other fabricated predicaments. They cultivated emotional connections, with some falsely professing love and intentions to marry Ms. Barton. This emotional manipulation led her to sell her house and car, ultimately depleting all her funds.
Ms. Barton is currently awaiting emergency housing, having run out of money. Her experience highlights the sophisticated tactics employed by romance scammers who exploit emotions and trust. The case is being reviewed by Action Fraud, and Ms. Barton is working with solicitors to attempt recovery of her money.
