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| Romance scam victim travels 700km 'to marry French beauty queen' | Romance scam victim travels 700km 'to marry French beauty queen' |
| (21 days later) | |
| Sophie Vouzelaud was first runner-up to Miss France in 2007 | Sophie Vouzelaud was first runner-up to Miss France in 2007 |
| A Belgian man has travelled 760km (472 miles) to meet a French beauty queen he had been led to believe would be his future wife, only to realise he had been a victim of online romance fraud. | A Belgian man has travelled 760km (472 miles) to meet a French beauty queen he had been led to believe would be his future wife, only to realise he had been a victim of online romance fraud. |
| Michel, 76, turned up at the home of Sophie Vouzelaud in France but was met by the model's husband. | Michel, 76, turned up at the home of Sophie Vouzelaud in France but was met by the model's husband. |
| He told Ms Vouzelaud's husband, Fabien, he had paid €30,000 (£26,000; $35,000) to the scammers and thought he had been in a romantic relationship for several weeks. | |
| "I am an imbecile," the man said to the couple as he contemplated taking the long journey back. | "I am an imbecile," the man said to the couple as he contemplated taking the long journey back. |
| Michel's misadventure became known after a video of his unfortunate encounter with the couple was shared online by Fabien. | Michel's misadventure became known after a video of his unfortunate encounter with the couple was shared online by Fabien. |
| For weeks, the Belgian - a widower of four years - had been communicating on WhatsApp with who he thought was Ms Vouzelaud, former Miss Limousin and first runner-up to Miss France in 2007. | For weeks, the Belgian - a widower of four years - had been communicating on WhatsApp with who he thought was Ms Vouzelaud, former Miss Limousin and first runner-up to Miss France in 2007. |
| He turned up outside the couple's property in Saint-Julien, some 420km (270 miles) south of Paris, on 9 July and according to Fabien said: "I am the future husband of Sophie Vouzelaud", to which he retorted: "Well, I'm the current one." | He turned up outside the couple's property in Saint-Julien, some 420km (270 miles) south of Paris, on 9 July and according to Fabien said: "I am the future husband of Sophie Vouzelaud", to which he retorted: "Well, I'm the current one." |
| Ms Vouzelaud, 38, then tried to explain to him that he had been swindled and the couple urged him to go to the police to file a complaint. It is not clear if he has done so. | Ms Vouzelaud, 38, then tried to explain to him that he had been swindled and the couple urged him to go to the police to file a complaint. It is not clear if he has done so. |
| Romance fraud is when someone is conned into sending money to a criminal who convinces them they are in a genuine relationship. | Romance fraud is when someone is conned into sending money to a criminal who convinces them they are in a genuine relationship. |
| How to avoid romance scams | How to avoid romance scams |
| According to Action Fraud, signs of romance fraud include a person being secretive about their relationship or becoming hostile or angry when asked about their online partner. | According to Action Fraud, signs of romance fraud include a person being secretive about their relationship or becoming hostile or angry when asked about their online partner. |
| They may have sent, or be planning to send, money to someone they have never met in person. | They may have sent, or be planning to send, money to someone they have never met in person. |
| Advice for protecting yourself against scams includes: | Advice for protecting yourself against scams includes: |
| Be suspicious of any requests for money from someone you have never met in person, particularly if you have only recently met online | Be suspicious of any requests for money from someone you have never met in person, particularly if you have only recently met online |
| Speak to your family or friends to get advice | Speak to your family or friends to get advice |
| Profile photos may not be genuine, so do your research first. Performing a reverse image search using a search engine can help you find photos that have been stolen from somewhere else | Profile photos may not be genuine, so do your research first. Performing a reverse image search using a search engine can help you find photos that have been stolen from somewhere else |
| Advice for supporting a victim of a scam includes: | Advice for supporting a victim of a scam includes: |
| Reassure your loved one you are there for them and it is not their fault | Reassure your loved one you are there for them and it is not their fault |
| Improve your own understanding about romance scams | Improve your own understanding about romance scams |
| Remember to look after yourself, too - supporting someone through romance fraud can be tough | Remember to look after yourself, too - supporting someone through romance fraud can be tough |
| Source: Action Fraud / Victim Support | Source: Action Fraud / Victim Support |
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