Widow Lost £1M to Scammers, Died in Ghana Crash

Janet Fordham, a 69-year-old British widow, tragically died in Ghana on February 14, 2023, following a road crash. Her death came after she had travelled to the country months earlier in an attempt to meet an online acquaintance, Kofi, who had promised to help her recover money lost to romance scammers.

Fordham had been the victim of sustained fraud since 2017, losing an estimated £800,000 to £1 million. The financial devastation forced her to sell her home and deplete her savings. Despite repeated warnings from her family, she continued to send money, even withdrawing cash daily when banks restricted transfers.

In October 2022, she travelled to Ghana to meet Kofi. On the day of the fatal accident, she was travelling with him from Accra when their vehicle left the road. Kofi later pleaded guilty to driving offences. The coroner recorded a narrative conclusion, highlighting her long-term victimisation by fraud.