Five-year sentence for man behind romance fraud

A man behind a romance fraud in which a victim was scammed out of more than £120,000 has been jailed following an investigation by Kent Police.

In May 2023, a victim came forward to tell police she had transferred a lot of money to a man she had met online, but now believed she had been defrauded.

The woman, who was living in the Medway area, had joined a website to meet new people and had been contacted by a man who claimed to be an army officer involved in 'covert operations' in Mali.

Defrauded

Following further messages between the two, the man said he wanted to live with the victim when he returned to the UK. He told her he had a consignment of gold which he needed to import back to the UK and asked if she could help his friend pay the relevant duties and taxes.

The woman agreed and, in 16 separate transactions in 2022 and 2023, paid £128,500 into accounts the man claimed belonged to his colleague.

Detectives found that the accounts had actually been set up by a Maxwell Rusey, formerly of Nuneaton, Warwickshire.

Arrest

He was arrested in March 2024 and later charged with fraud and money laundering offences after a fake passport used to set up one of the accounts was found in his possession.

The 53-year-old admitted money laundering and possession of articles for use in fraud before Woolwich Crown Court and was jailed for five years on Monday 23 September.

Detective Constable Mark Newman, Kent Police's investigating officer, said:

'Romance fraud is a particularly cruel offence which causes serious emotional harm for victims, as well as the financial impact it entails. 'Many victims struggle to report offences due to the level of deception used by fraudsters and I would like to praise the victim in this case for coming forward and supporting this prosecution. 'I am pleased that the court has recognised the seriousness of the offence in the sentence handed down and I hope it sends a message to other offenders that jail awaits them.'

For more information about fraud and advice on how to avoid becoming a victim, click here.