I’ve matched with four men on dating apps – they were all scammers
A 60-year-old’s experience with online romance scams
I ve matched with four men – Julie Osgood, a resident of Middleton, decided to explore modern dating platforms after her nearly 40-year partner, Tony Donohue, passed away in November 2020. Despite her initial optimism, the experience left her disillusioned, as the first four men she connected with on dating apps were revealed to be scammers. “It was a huge decision,” she said, reflecting on her choice to try online dating. “But now I’m determined to ‘stay single’ for good.”
Julie, who had been with Tony since the age of 17, described the process of signing up as “a significant move.” While she scrutinized each scammer’s motives before sharing money, she concluded that “I just don’t know where you’re meant to meet real people.” Her goal was to warn others and push dating services to address the issue.
“I’m annoyed because it’s four times and I just think ‘give me a break’.”
According to data from the BBC, reported losses from romance scams in 2024 surpassed £92 million, a rise from £82 million in 2023. Julie noted that the first three scammers on the same app followed a consistent pattern. Photos of the men, shared with the BBC, displayed AI-generated anomalies, such as cluttered text in the background.
“They all begin with similar narratives,” she explained. “They claim to be widowed, except one who said he was divorced, but they all mention teenage daughters living with their mothers.” Initially, interactions were normal, lasting a couple of weeks before the scammers abruptly shifted focus. “One claimed to be on a business trip, but lost his briefcase and needed help,” she said. “It took them weeks to ask for money.”
After abandoning dating apps, Julie reentered the scene following a house move and the departure of her last child. “I thought the only option was dating websites,” she admitted. “I gave it another shot, using a different platform for a month.” This time, she chose Ourtime, a service targeting individuals over 50.
She matched with a user named Franck, who presented himself as an architect from France. Franck repeated the same claims about being divorced and having a teenage daughter, but seemed more authentic. After chatting via WhatsApp for weeks, Julie proposed meeting for a drink to verify his identity. “I thought this was the way to check if he was real,” she said.
“He said ‘yeah that would be great’,” she recalled. “But then, four days later, he had to rush back to France.”
Curious about Franck’s true motives, Julie continued engaging. He began recounting a legal battle over his late father’s estate, stating his accounts were frozen. In messages, he described the situation as “destroying me mentally and emotionally.” She offered to fly to Paris and hand over £20,000 in cash, claiming it was for builders’ fees.
Flight details were exchanged, and a meeting was planned at the arrivals gate. However, Julie never boarded the plane. “There might have been someone waiting to rob me,” she speculated. She reported the incident to Greater Manchester Police, who have not yet commented.
Julie has since notified Ourtime about Franck’s account. In an email shared with the BBC, the service stated: “Our members’ safety is our top priority, and we strive to create a secure, welcoming environment for all users.” The platform requested additional details to investigate further.
