Woman lived on 50p a day after romance fraud

A woman in her 40s says she was sleeping rough in her car and living on 50p a day after being defrauded by a man whom she thought was the love of her life.

Tamsin (not her real name) said throughout her two-year relationship with Mike (also not his real name), he constantly lied to her, even claiming he had terminal cancer before faking his own death.

She said she paid out a total of more than £50,000 over the duration of the relationship.

"He completely destroyed and abused me. Everything was for his gain," Tamsin said.

Mike worked at a motor vehicle business close to where Tamsin worked at the time and their paths crossed.

"I can't believe that a person can be that nasty or would want to hurt someone who is so caring and loving," she said.

Sussex Police said Mike was arrested following a four-month road trip, adding Tamsin had spent "thousands of pounds on their hotels and living expenses".

Tamsin said she has "struggled with sleep" following the experience.

"I am worried about money, I've got debts and I have had to ask for help from foodbanks," she says.

Tamsin advises others "not to go along with what you have been told".

"There are people who prey on your kindness and love. You've got to protect yourself otherwise you end up with nothing," she says.

Lisa Mills, senior fraud manager at Victim Support Sussex, said: "We worked together to rebuild Tamsin's emotional resilience following what had been an incredibly traumatic experience."

Mills added Tamsin had recovered a proportion of the money she had lost, and was now in a "far stronger financial position" and felt "increasingly confident about her future".

"While in-person romance fraud is far less common than the volume of online cases we see, it is just as important to shine a light on this form of deception and the devastating impact it has on people," she said.

Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne said Victim Support Sussex had seen a 5.5% increase in romance fraud referrals from Sussex Police in the past year.

Up to 310 referrals were made in 2024, which rose to 327 referrals in 2025.

Since 2016, Bourne has funded two specialist fraud caseworker roles at Victim Support Sussex to help victims across the county

"Romance fraud is particularly cruel and, in cases like Tamsin's, victims are left emotionally and financially devastated, grieving for a relationship they believed was genuine and loving," Bourne said.

"Far too many victims suffer in silence, unsure where to turn after such a profound breach of trust.".

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