The man I loved was never real..it cost me £200k

Victim warns dating fraud is an epidemic | 8,600 duped by lonely heart rogues last year

- SOPHIE HUSKISSON and SANJEETA BAINS

CECILIE Fjellhoy's romance with the wealthy son of a diamond billionaire was a dream come true.

But that was until she learned her boyfriend Simon was in danger from diamond dealers who wanted to hurt him - and he needed her credit cards to get away.

Cecilie ended up being fleeced for £200,000.

Her story was told on Netflix true crime documentary The Tinder Swindler.

She is among the many victims of romance crooks, who stole £90million last year.

Ahead of Valentine's Day tomorrow, figures have revealed an epidemic of romance fraud. It is when people send money to criminals who convinced them that they are in a relationship. In 2023, £88,312,382 was lost, says data from the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau released to the Liberal Democrats. That is nearly £242,000 a day.

On average, people lose more than £10,000. Cecilie, 36, a software designer from Norway, believes the true number of victims is far higher due to stigma and embarrassment.