Online romance scams have devastating effects, as illustrated by Marie-Jacqueline, who lost 14,000 euros to a scammer posing as a French entrepreneur. Victims, often targeted through social media, can fall deeply under the emotional manipulation of scammers, leading to significant financial loss. Scammers, primarily operating from West Africa, exploit loneliness and trust, resulting in millions lost annually in France. Awareness and prompt action are crucial to combat this growing threat.
The Heartbreak of Online Romance Scams
*”How could I allow myself to be misled by such foolish interactions?”* This haunting question echoes in the mind of Marie-Jacqueline, whose experience with an online romance has led to significant financial loss. It all began five years ago during the lockdown when this retiree, living alone, sought to pass the time on Facebook. *”I encountered someone who said, ‘I’d like to be friends. Can we chat?'”* she reminisces. *”From there, we got swept up in the fantasy,”* she admits.
The Cost of Deception
*”I lost 14,000 euros, money I had saved for my retirement,”* Marie-Jacqueline mourns, reflecting on the devastation of falling victim to a scam. *”What captivated me was his romantic words. No man has ever spoken to me like that: ‘I love you, my darling. We’ll be together, you’ll see,'”* she shares. Their communication was limited to messages; there were no phone calls or in-person meetings. *”His charming way of speaking made me vulnerable,”* she confesses. This fairytale lasted for several weeks before the reality of the scam began to unfold.
The man she never met eventually requested financial assistance, claiming he sold cars between Spain and France. *”He told me that, due to the lockdown, his cars were stuck at the Spanish border and that there were customs fees to pay,”* Marie-Jacqueline explains. Initially, she sent small amounts, but soon the requests escalated to hundreds of euros. *”In total, I lost 14,000 euros. It vanished into thin air,”* she laments.
As highlighted by recent reports, Marie-Jacqueline is not alone in her plight. Each year, nearly a thousand individuals in France, both men and women, fall prey to these romantic scams. These fraudulent activities are primarily orchestrated by scammers, known as *’brouteurs,’* operating mainly from West Africa, particularly in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. A news team ventured there, attempting to uncover the inner workings of these scams. After prolonged negotiations, one scammer, whom we’ll refer to as Cédric, agreed to reveal his methods while remaining anonymous.
Equipped with nothing more than two garden chairs and a basic computer, Cédric explained how he targets victims. *”We sometimes take profiles from Facebook, Instagram, or dating sites; it varies,”* he stated. To lure in his prey, Cédric uses real photos and videos sourced from social media. On the day of the report, he focused on impersonating a journalist who frequently shares images of himself and his daughter—an ideal setup to attract a lonely retiree in Germany. He even manipulated identity documents to further instill trust in his target.
With no shame, Cédric demonstrated how he deceived his victim on camera. The victim believed she was engaged in a genuine conversation with a caring family man. *”I told her I had a microphone issue, so she couldn’t hear. I made sure to be available whenever she felt alone; it helped build trust,”* he explained. He added, *”Seeing the little girl in the images amazes her and makes her fall deeper in love.”*
According to Sébastien Possemé, head of the gendarmerie’s digital division, *”The emotional aspect of this scam puts victims in denial.”* Some scammers have become incredibly wealthy, earning up to 100,000 euros monthly. In a developing nation where job opportunities are scarce, many view scamming Westerners as a swift way to achieve financial success. At night in Abidjan, it’s common for these scammers to flaunt their wealth at clubs, displaying their status with champagne and parties. *”We drink champagne, and sometimes, girls join us. It’s a widespread issue; everyone does it. All the youth in Abidjan are caught up in this,”* Cédric admitted.
In response to this growing threat, Côte d’Ivoire has established a unit to track these cybercriminals, yet arrests remain infrequent. In France, a unit of specialized gendarmes is available 24/7 to handle reports, often receiving several cases daily. Frequently, it is not the victims who report these crimes but their family members. *”The emotional manipulation involved in these scams often leads victims to deny their situation for a long time,”* emphasizes Sébastien Possemé. Family members are often the first to bring the victim’s circumstances to the attention of law enforcement.
At the first sign of suspicion, it is crucial to act swiftly, as recovering voluntarily transferred funds is nearly impossible. Scammers continue to extort between 50 and 100 million euros from French victims each year, making awareness and vigilance essential in the digital age.