Romance fraud ruined Tamsin's life after she met a man in 2022

Tamsin met a man she calls Mike in the summer of 2022 and within two years says her life was wrecked: she left her marriage, lost her home, quit her job, sold her car and phone, spent all her savings and racked up tens of thousands in debt. Mike is now in prison serving a 22-year sentence, but not for offences connected to Tamsin; police have told her her experience "would not stand up in court." The relationship began after passing a garage in south‑east England; the man called out to her, they exchanged numbers and began constant WhatsApp exchanges.

He claimed to be a wealthy property investor, said he had cancer (initially described as a 20p‑size growth, later said to be the size of a grapefruit), staged a fake death and recovery, and persuaded her to fund hotels, travel and renovations while she resigned from work and sold cars and her phone.

Tamsin says she was cut off from family and friends and, after months of paying for everything, the pair ended up sleeping in her car. She drove to her parents, who had been in touch with police and told her Mike was wanted for multiple sexual offences; she contacted the officer in charge and he was arrested that day.

Two years on she is staying with her parents, has found work and is repaying debts under a Victim Support scheme, still owing about £50,000 on credit cards.

tamsin's story, romance fraud, in-person romance fraud, lovesaid, nigel baker, victim support scheme, south east england, credit card debt, cecilie fjellhøy, tinder swindler documentary, christopher harkins, david checkley