Mum loses home and life savings after £250k celebrity romance scam
A mother from Worcestershire has been left homeless after being systematically defrauded of £250,000 by sophisticated online scammers impersonating Hollywood actors and pop stars.
Jennifer Barton, a 44-year-old NHS worker from Kidderminster, was targeted by six different fraudsters over two years who pretended to be celebrities including Alexander Ludwig, Charlie Hunnam, Westlife's Nicky Byrne, and American country singer Michael Ray.
The elaborate deception begins
The nightmare began when Barton received a message on Instagram from an account claiming to represent Vikings star Alexander Ludwig. "She advised me to go on Telegram, so I downloaded it," Barton explained. "At the start, it was general everyday kind of chat with a bit of flirtatiousness."
What began as seemingly innocent conversation quickly escalated into emotional manipulation and financial demands. "It was within a month or so he asked for money," Barton revealed. "He asked for around £3,000 for court fees."
Multiple scams and escalating losses
Over the following months, Barton was targeted by multiple fraudsters using similar tactics:
- One impersonator of Alexander Ludwig received £6,000 in cash and another £6,000 in Bitcoin over a year
- A second Ludwig impersonator scammed her for more than £100,000, claiming he needed the money to "catch" the original fake
- A Charlie Hunnam impersonator was exposed during a video call when his accent didn't match the actor's
- The most devastating blow came from a Michael Ray impersonator who pressured her to sell her house and car
"Michael Ray sent me a pic of himself, which matched up with his Instagram," Barton said. "His game was that he had a charity that could help me cover my bills for a few months and I had to send him some money."
Psychological manipulation and devastating consequences
The fraudsters employed sophisticated psychological tactics to maintain control over their victim. "They all told me that they loved me and wanted to marry me, wanted to come to England and be with me," Barton recalled.
Scammers created elaborate backstories to explain their need for money, including:
- Messy divorces where they claimed to have no access to their own funds
- Legal troubles requiring court fees
- Being robbed while visiting London
- Contract disputes with management
"There was an addictiveness, when someone gives you attention, even if it's a scammer, it's nice," Barton admitted. "They play on your feelings."
Financial ruin and homelessness
The financial impact has been catastrophic. Barton was forced to sell her family home for £111,000, with the vast majority of the proceeds going to the scammers. She has also surrendered her car and has had to place her children with their father.
"I ran out of money, I'm currently homeless at the moment," she revealed. She is now living in a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) while awaiting emergency housing.
Warning to others and legal action
Barton is now speaking out to warn others about the dangers of online romance fraud. "For anyone facing anything similar, just reach out to family and friends," she advised. "Especially if they're asking you for money."
Action Fraud has reviewed her case under its Report Fraud Analysis Service at the City of London Police. The investigation will continue as more information becomes available. Barton has also engaged CEL Solicitors to help recover some of her lost funds.
Jessica Hampson, CEO of CEL Solicitors, commented: "Cases like this are much more common than people realise. It's easy to think that something like this could never happen to us, but the truth is, those who prey on vulnerability are skilled at exploiting people's emotions and fears."
"They know how to manipulate trust, slowly wearing down people's defences. It's not just about money, it's about protecting your wellbeing, as the emotional toll of a scam can be just as devastating as the financial loss."
