Victim of Romance Scam Loses £85,000 and Finds Himself Homeless

Rodrick Lodge, a 69-year-old widower, has been left devastated and homeless after being deceived into transferring £85,000 to someone who never existed. Mr. Lodge, who was previously residing in Leiston, Suffolk, found himself drawn into a sophisticated scam involving a fictitious woman named Anita.

Three years ago, Mr. Lodge was introduced to Anita by a friend he had met during a visit to Kenya. Over time, their relationship developed through social media, and Mr. Lodge found himself falling in love for the first time since the passing of his wife, Pauline, in 2019. Enthralled by the prospect of a new life, Mr. Lodge agreed to relocate to Nairobi to marry her.

However, the woman he believed he was in love with was part of an elaborate scam. Mr. Lodge was persuaded to invest in renovations for Anita’s supposed four-bedroom house as a dowry for their marriage. He sent money for various home improvements and received photographs of the house and intimate images purportedly of Anita. She even claimed to be the managing director of a successful beauty products company, which further convinced Mr. Lodge of her authenticity.

The scam unraveled when Mr. Lodge traveled to Kenya to finally meet Anita and finalize their plans. Upon arrival, he found no sign of her at the airport, and his repeated attempts to connect with her were met with constant excuses. It soon became apparent that Anita was a fabrication, and the person behind the ruse was actually Mr. Lodge’s acquaintance from the initial introduction.

Reflecting on the situation, Mr. Lodge, a former United Nations worker, expressed his deep regret and humiliation. “The plan was to meet her in Nairobi, but it was all a scam. Anita never existed,” he said. “I feel foolish and embarrassed for believing in it all. I truly thought she was real.”

The aftermath has been devastating for Mr. Lodge. After returning to the UK, he found himself sleeping rough at Heathrow Airport for three days before seeking refuge in a homeless shelter in Woking. With his life savings drained and no family to turn to, he feels as though his future has been obliterated. “Losing my wife left me vulnerable, and now this scam has taken everything from me. I have nothing left and no reason to look forward to anything,” he lamented. “I hope the person responsible for this suffering faces severe consequences.”

In response to such incidents, Action Fraud, the UK’s national fraud and cybercrime reporting center, has issued guidelines to help individuals recognize and avoid romance scams. They emphasize that it is crucial not to send money to someone you have not met in person, regardless of the duration of your online relationship. Furthermore, individuals should be cautious about granting bank access, taking out loans on behalf of someone, providing personal documents, or sending and receiving parcels for them.

Victims of romance scams are advised to contact their banks immediately and report the fraud to Action Fraud. Reports can be made through their website, actionfraud.police.uk, or by calling 0300 123 2040.