The known as Ben McEvansoneya, revealed that he got messages on Instagram who was impersonating popular Californian adult actress, Nicolette Shea.
The 36-year-old man said that at the time, he was very lonely and had low self-esteem following a break up he had so he wanted to just open up to someone and that was when the impersonator came through.
He said conversations deepened between them and it turned out to become a serious relationship which ended them discussing their future together.
Ben disclosed that the impersonator who scammed him of £10,000 promised to relocate from the US to be with him in the UK.
However, the f@ke Nicolette began requesting for money claiming she was in dire need of money to fund his late dad’s funeral.
Ben whose right arm and both feet have been amputated following his battle with meningitis and septicemia when he was an infant succumbed to the request of the sc@mmer as he wired £200 to him every other month.
According to the embittered man, he transferred so much money to the impersonator totaling £10,000 in all and the money was from his disability benefits.
He said he began to notice certain loose ends in his interaction with the impersonator and disconnect himself from the person in terms of communication.
This was after realizing the impersonator rejected every request by him for a video call or phone call so he would see ‘her’ for himself increasing his suspicions of foul play.
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Despite efforts by Police to hunt down the impersonator and recover his money back they have been unsuccessful in identifying the ‘Nicolette Shea’.
Ben said: ‘I feel humiliated by it now but at the time I thought it was real. I was in a low place and had low self-esteem. I guess I was just naive.
‘I was lonely and I wanted someone to talk to. It really was very traumatic because I had to deal with the emotional impacts and the financial impacts.
‘I’m disabled and so rely on benefits and the money I was sending meant I was struggling to live properly. I actually had a nervous breakdown.’
Ben said: ‘I noticed that they would have an excuse every time I asked for a phone call or video call.
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‘And I actually started coming across articles online about scams. So I just cottoned onto
‘I confronted the scammer but they obviously denied it and then the conversation went dead,’ Ben said.
‘When I spoke to police, they told me that these scams are happening a lot – particularly romance and celebrity ones.
‘These scammers prey on the vulnerable and unfortunately, I was one of those people at the time.
‘It’s sad that people take advantage of other people’s good nature.’
He said: ‘It’s embarrassing but I hope I can help other people become more aware of things like this.
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‘There are tell-tale signs like refusing to have a video call or asking for money. These are all red flags. I just didn’t notice them at the time.’
