Throughout their two-year relationship ‘Mike’ constantly lied to Tamsin* – even claiming he had terminal cancer before faking his own death.
Police arrested ‘Mike’ following a four-month UK road trip during which Tamsin spent thousands of pounds on their hotels and living expenses, leaving her living on 50p a day.
Tamsin calculates she paid out more than £50,000 in total throughout the relationship.
She is still trying to comprehend how someone she thought was so nice turned out to be so callous:
“When I look back, I can’t believe that a person can be that nasty or would want to hurt someone who is so caring and loving”, Tamsin said.
Lisa Mills, Senior Fraud Manager, Victim Support Sussex supported Tamsin for a year after she became the victim of an in-person romance fraud.
“Lisa is brilliant, she is so knowledgeable and has helped me loads”, said Tamsin.
“She’s been a sensible voice to talk to and has been somebody who is very much on my side”, Tamsin added.
“Using a blend of regular phone calls and face‑to‑face visits, we worked together to rebuild Tamsin’s emotional resilience following what had been an incredibly traumatic experience”, Lisa said.
“I also guided Tamsin through the process of approaching her banks to appeal for the return of her financial losses.
“With sustained support from myself and partner agencies, Tamsin was able to recover a proportion of the money she lost.
“She is now in a far stronger financial position and feels increasingly confident about her future.
“While in-person romance fraud is far less common than the volume of online cases we see, it is just as important to shine a light on this form of deception and the devastating impact it has on people.”
Since 2016, Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne has funded two specialist fraud caseworker roles at Victim Support Sussex, providing tailored one‑to‑one support for vulnerable fraud victims across the county. The caseworkers follow up on referrals from Operation Signature, which is Sussex Police’s pioneering response to identify and support vulnerable victims of fraud.
“Anyone can experience this type of fraud and it’s on the rise”, said Mrs Bourne.
“Victim Support Sussex has seen a 5.5% increase in romance fraud referrals from Sussex Police in the past year, up from 310 referrals in Jan-Dec 2024 to 327 referrals in Jan-Dec 2025.
“Romance fraud is particularly cruel and, in cases like Tamsin’s, victims are left emotionally and financially devastated, grieving for a relationship they believed was genuine and loving.
“Far too many victims suffer in silence, unsure where to turn after such a profound breach of trust.
“That’s why Victim Support’s specialist fraud caseworkers are so crucial in Sussex. They offer the time, expertise and compassion needed to help victims rebuild their confidence, navigate complex financial issues and start to recover from what is often a deeply traumatic experience. Their support is genuinely life‑changing.”
Victims of fraud can report it to Sussex Police online or by calling 101. Victims of romance fraud can also access peer support or group sessions through Victim Support’s Fraud Peer Support Pilot. This service is available to anyone over 18 who has been affected by relationship fraud in Sussex. Email: [email protected] or call: 0303 313 2955.
*not the victim’s real name, which has been protected for anonymity.
