A retired teacher from the London area has spoken out after losing more than £128,000 in a romance scam involving a man who posed as a retired British Army general. Diana Jenkins, a pseudonym used to protect her privacy, was targeted after the death of her husband of 42 years, leaving her vulnerable and seeking companionship.
According to Diana, the scam began in October 2022 when she connected with a man online who claimed to be a retired general with a knighthood, recently recommissioned for covert military operations overseas. He appeared attentive and caring, providing daily messages and professing love, which led Diana to believe they were forming a genuine relationship.
Over several months, the man built a narrative around the discovery of a gold cache in Mali, which he said required transportation through Turkey to the United Kingdom. He requested Diana’s assistance to pay various taxes and shipment fees, presenting what seemed to be official documents with authentic-looking stamps. Over time, these payments grew, and Diana made 16 bank transfers in total, depleting her retirement savings intended as inheritance for her children.
Diana eventually grew suspicious when the man failed to appear at Heathrow Airport as promised and when a voice call revealed a foreign accent inconsistent with his purported identity. When confronted, the scammer threatened her with legal consequences related to the gold shipment, warning that involving law enforcement would implicate her.
Diana’s bank, Halifax, noticed unusual payment patterns and alerted her to potential fraud. After reporting the situation to the police, authorities arrested Maxwell Rusey, 53, operating from Nuneaton, Warwickshire, who was later convicted and sentenced to five years in prison in September 2024 for the romance fraud. Following her complaint to the Financial Ombudsman, Diana was reimbursed the full amount taken.
The case coincides with Freeview channel Great! TV Romance becoming the first television outlet to air commercial support for the National Crime Agency’s campaign against romance fraud, highlighting the growing concern over such scams.
Reflecting on her experience, Diana emphasized that victims are targeted not due to gullibility but because of their loneliness. She urged others to be cautious, advising that the moment money is requested in an online relationship, it is a clear warning sign. Diana has since found genuine love outside of the online dating sphere and hopes her story will raise awareness to prevent others from suffering similar losses.