Woman conned in dating scam convicted of sending victims' cash to 'soulmate'

Conned: Sherroll Foster sent her life savings to a man purporting to be a businessman she met on a dating website
Met Police
Jamie Bullen16 August 2016
WEST END FINAL

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A woman who sent her life savings to a dating site conman has been convicted of money laundering after she unwittingly gave cash from other victims.

Sherroll Foster, from Uxbridge, was spared jail but ordered to repay £3,500 after she admitted the offence at Isleworth Crown Court on Monday.

The 65-year-old thought she met her “soulmate” when she met a man, posing as a businessman named Mark Hamilton in Ghana, on a dating website in 2012.

However, she was in fact targeted in a scam aimed at women over 60 who use websites to find love.

She was plunged into debt and faces financial ruin after she sent her life savings to help the man as well as taking out an overdraft, personal and payday loans and used credit cards to send money.

She also allowed other women, who she said she thought were Hamilton’s friends, to pay money into her account which was then passed on to scammers.

One transferred £8,000 while another sent £19,000, before they realised that they were being fleeced and contacted authorities.

A third victim paid another £3,500 into the account which was paid even though Foster was on bail for money laundering.

Police said the victims were fleeced by a gang targeting older women who use dating websites.

Detective Constable Mark Cresswell said: "This may not be a unique tale, but it most certainly should be treated as a cautionary one.

"These fraudsters target vulnerable people and exploit them not only financially, but emotionally, making their victims believe that true happiness is almost within reach and just a bank transfer away.

"Sherroll Foster was looking forward to a comfortable retirement prior to becoming involved with this scam. She now faces financial ruin and extensive, long term debt.

"If someone online that you have never met in person asks you for money it is highly likely that it is a scam.”

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