A grieving man who turned to the internet after losing his long-term partner was the victim of a cruel romance scam that saw him leave his entire £1 million fortune to a boyfriend who did not exist.
The Heartbreaking Online Relationship
William Ian Southey, 73, from Melbourne, began an online relationship with a man named Kyle Stuart Jackson in early 2022. This came after the death of his partner of four decades, leaving him vulnerable and seeking connection.
The pair communicated solely online, with their bond growing so strong that William reportedly planned to marry Kyle. He was so convinced of the relationship's authenticity that he named Kyle as the sole executor and beneficiary of his will, bequeathing him his entire estate.
A Two-Year Legal Investigation
After William's death in 2022, suspicions were immediately raised when solicitors could not verify Kyle's identity. William's ex-wife, Kaye Moseley, whom he had remained close friends with since their divorce in 1989, applied to the court to determine if Kyle was a real person.
For two years, lawyers embarked on a painstaking investigation. They attempted to contact Kyle via phone, email, and Zoom video calls. A passport provided was found to be fraudulent by a private detective. Enquiries also focused on a cheque for £647,500 made payable to Kyle for the purchase of two Jean Basquiat paintings, which a bank later confirmed was invalid and would not clear.
The Devastating Truth Emerges
Associate Judge Caroline Anne Goulden ultimately ruled that the person named in the will did not exist. The judge noted that communications from the email account linked to Kyle were irregular and an address provided had no trace of anyone by that name.
"I am satisfied that the person named as Kyle Stuart Jackson does not exist in the manner understood by the deceased, or at all," Judge Goulden concluded. The estate included William's home in the Melbourne suburb of Kew, which sold for £1.25 million.
A Dire Warning About Online Vulnerabilities
William's ex-wife's lawyer, Rachael Hocking, said the case serves as a stark warning, especially for those who may be lonely or vulnerable. She expressed concern that such fraud is evolving from simple money transfers to complex inheritance scams.
"These issues pop up time and time again, but I am very concerned that we'll see lots more now, particularly with online relationships," Hocking stated. "This case has shown that it's actually even progressed to being nominated as a potential beneficiary under a will."
The tragic case underscores the sophisticated and heartless nature of modern romance fraud, where criminals exploit emotional vulnerability for significant financial gain, even targeting the provisions of a person's final will.
