Michel, a 76-year-old widower from Belgium, embarked on a 760km trip believing he was meeting his future wife, only to confront the harsh reality of online romance fraud. After communicating with someone posing as Sophie Vouzelaud, the former beauty queen, Michel’s dream was shattered when he was met by her actual husband, urging him to report the scam.
Belgian Man Falls Victim to Romance Scam, Travels Over 700km to Meet 'Fiancée'
Belgian Man Falls Victim to Romance Scam, Travels Over 700km to Meet 'Fiancée'
A widowed Belgian's journey to meet a supposed French beauty queen turns disastrous as he discovers he's been scammed.
A Belgian man's quest for love turned into a painful lesson on online fraud when he traveled 760 kilometers (472 miles) to meet a supposed French beauty queen, only to find out he had been scammed. Michel, 76, had been led to believe he was in a romantic relationship with Sophie Vouzelaud, who was the first runner-up in the Miss France contest in 2007.
The incident unfolded when Michel showed up at Vouzelaud's residence in St. Julien, located about 420 kilometers (270 miles) south of Paris, on July 9. Expecting to meet his future wife, he instead encountered her husband, Fabien, who was understandably perplexed by Michel’s claim: “I am the future husband of Sophie Vouzelaud.” Fabien replied bluntly, “Well, I’m the current one.”
As the reality of the situation set in, Michel, who had been communicating with an imposter on WhatsApp for several weeks, expressed his disillusionment, admitting, “I am an imbecile,” as he contemplated the long return journey. The couple encouraged him to report the fraud to the police, but it remains unclear whether he followed through.
Romance scams like this are alarmingly common, especially among vulnerable individuals, such as seniors who may feel isolated. Action Fraud warns that common signs of such scams include partners being secretive about their identity or relationship. If requests for money are made by someone met solely online, it’s crucial to approach the situation with caution.
To protect yourself, seek advice from friends or family, and perform a reverse image search to ensure profile photos aren't stolen. For those supporting victims of romance fraud, it's essential to offer reassurance, remind them there is no shame in falling for a scam, and to take care of one's own emotional well-being too. The emotional toll of such scams can be overwhelming for both the victim and their supporters.
