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Fraudster poses as Jason Statham to steal victim's money | Fraudster poses as Jason Statham to steal victim's money |
(about 7 hours later) | |
A fraudster posing as Hollywood actor Jason Statham cheated a British woman out of hundreds of thousands using an online scam, the BBC has learned. | A fraudster posing as Hollywood actor Jason Statham cheated a British woman out of hundreds of thousands using an online scam, the BBC has learned. |
It comes as police warn such crimes are at "epidemic" levels, with Greater Manchester Police (GMP) receiving reports of about 1,000 victims a month. | It comes as police warn such crimes are at "epidemic" levels, with Greater Manchester Police (GMP) receiving reports of about 1,000 victims a month. |
Detectives fear the true figure may be up to 10 times higher as many fraud victims never come forward. | Detectives fear the true figure may be up to 10 times higher as many fraud victims never come forward. |
Det Con Craig Moylon said: "It's the volume crime of the 21st Century." | Det Con Craig Moylon said: "It's the volume crime of the 21st Century." |
A recent estimate put the total lost to fraud each year in the UK at about £110bn. | A recent estimate put the total lost to fraud each year in the UK at about £110bn. |
One victim from the North West of England told BBC Radio Manchester she had lost a fortune after being targeted by a fraudster who has "just got no feelings at all". | One victim from the North West of England told BBC Radio Manchester she had lost a fortune after being targeted by a fraudster who has "just got no feelings at all". |
The woman, who asked not to be named, said she was targeted at a vulnerable time following the deaths of both her mother and fiancé. | The woman, who asked not to be named, said she was targeted at a vulnerable time following the deaths of both her mother and fiancé. |
"I'm quite a strong person but obviously certain things get to you and you let your guard down," she said. | "I'm quite a strong person but obviously certain things get to you and you let your guard down," she said. |
'Star-struck' | 'Star-struck' |
The woman said she was first contacted online by someone posing as Mr Statham while she was on a Facebook page dedicated to the Fast and Furious star. | The woman said she was first contacted online by someone posing as Mr Statham while she was on a Facebook page dedicated to the Fast and Furious star. |
"I thought 'Oh, that's nice of him, talking to his fans'. I might have been star-struck then, I don't know," she said. | "I thought 'Oh, that's nice of him, talking to his fans'. I might have been star-struck then, I don't know," she said. |
The fraudster then encouraged her to use the encrypted WhatsApp service, sending her hundreds of messages over several months. | The fraudster then encouraged her to use the encrypted WhatsApp service, sending her hundreds of messages over several months. |
The woman said it felt like she was building a relationship with the actor, although looking back "I don't feel like I was in the right place myself because of what I'd been through". | The woman said it felt like she was building a relationship with the actor, although looking back "I don't feel like I was in the right place myself because of what I'd been through". |
The fraudster posing as Mr Statham told her he loved her and eventually asked her to help with some financial difficulties, claiming a film payment was delayed. | The fraudster posing as Mr Statham told her he loved her and eventually asked her to help with some financial difficulties, claiming a film payment was delayed. |
She the made a series of payments to the fraudster, totalling hundreds of thousands of pounds. | She the made a series of payments to the fraudster, totalling hundreds of thousands of pounds. |
While the woman declined to say the exact figure she transferred, "it was a substantial amount, which would have made a difference to my life and my family". | While the woman declined to say the exact figure she transferred, "it was a substantial amount, which would have made a difference to my life and my family". |
Eventually, she contacted GMP, whose Economic Crime Unit investigated what had taken place. | Eventually, she contacted GMP, whose Economic Crime Unit investigated what had taken place. |
"This lady has been subject to somebody who just tricked her at a very vulnerable time in her life," said Mr Moylon, who was involved in the investigation. | "This lady has been subject to somebody who just tricked her at a very vulnerable time in her life," said Mr Moylon, who was involved in the investigation. |
"When you see the relentless messaging that this lady got from this person and you see the grooming and the exploitation... the impact is extraordinary," he said. | "When you see the relentless messaging that this lady got from this person and you see the grooming and the exploitation... the impact is extraordinary," he said. |
The woman, who said she was "less trusting of people" as a result of her ordeal, is one of about 1,000 fraud victims reported to the force every month. | The woman, who said she was "less trusting of people" as a result of her ordeal, is one of about 1,000 fraud victims reported to the force every month. |
"We all know its the tip of the iceberg," said Mr Moylon. "The amount of people that report fraud are probably about 5-10% of the amount of people who actually are victims. | "We all know its the tip of the iceberg," said Mr Moylon. "The amount of people that report fraud are probably about 5-10% of the amount of people who actually are victims. |
"Fraud is an epidemic. We've got big problems that we're trying to tackle," he said. | "Fraud is an epidemic. We've got big problems that we're trying to tackle," he said. |
You might also be interested in: | You might also be interested in: |
GMP was unable to prosecute anyone over the fraud, with the person responsible believed to be operating from overseas. | |
You can hear more about this story on BBC Radio Manchester between 29 and 30 April as well as on BBC Sounds. | You can hear more about this story on BBC Radio Manchester between 29 and 30 April as well as on BBC Sounds. |