Police have issued a warning about romance fraud after an 81 year old woman from Greater Manchester was persuaded to buy £5,000 worth of gift cards for a scammer posing as a well known singer.
The woman was first contacted on Facebook by someone claiming to be linked to the celebrity. Officers say this is a common tactic used by fraudsters who pretend to be famous figures or their representatives.
The conversation later moved to the encrypted messaging app Telegram, where the offender continued to build trust over several months.
The victim was convinced to buy gift cards, believing the money would help arrange a face to face meeting with the singer. She did not tell her family about the relationship or the payments.
The scam was uncovered when her bank identified unusual activity on her account and contacted police.
Greater Manchester Police’s Economic and Cyber Crime Unit has highlighted the case ahead of Valentine’s Day, a period when romance fraud typically increases.
From April 2024 to March 2025, there were 267 reports of romance fraud in Greater Manchester, with reported losses totalling £2.93 million.
Since May 2025, the Cyber and Economic Crime Awareness Service has helped recover £2.8 million of victims’ money across all types of fraud.
Detective Inspector Stacey Shannon said “Our dedicated team works tirelessly to support victims of romance fraud.
“In this case, they spent several hours with the victim, helping her understand that the relationship was fraudulent and not genuine.
“From there, they put additional safeguarding measures in place to ensure her ongoing protection."
Police said the woman has since received ongoing support, including tailored fraud prevention advice and invitations to local awareness sessions. A care plan was submitted for safeguarding, and referrals were made to specialist support services including Love Said. Officers also assisted her in submitting a complaint to her bank in an effort to recover the funds.
In separate cases, a woman in her 50s was conned into investing around £500,000 after meeting a man on a dating app, while another woman in her 50s lost £2,000 after believing she was communicating with a well known soap star.
DI Shannon added “Romance fraud is not just about financial loss – it’s about emotional harm and broken trust. Offenders deliberately exploit feelings to manipulate victims, often leaving them isolated and vulnerable.
“We are here to help and will do everything we can to protect victims and prevent further harm.”
Suspected fraud can be reported by calling 0300 123 2040 or through the national Report Fraud website.
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