Scammers are using photos of a “silver fox” European defence minister to trick women out of tens of thousands of pounds.
The Latvian Defence Office has issued the alert after it was made aware of more than 100 fake profiles, posing as the defence minister and deputy prime minister Artis Pabriks.
One fraudster, posing as “Murphy Townsend” but using the Latvian minister’s photo, tricked British woman Sharon Bulmer out of nearly £80,000.
The fraudster initially messaged Ms Bulmer on Facebook in May 2020 saying he was “lonely”.
The pair began an online friendship, in which “Mr Townsend” told her he was a US soldier who needed money to leave Syria and visit her.
Only after two years of messaging did Ms Bulmer discover that the suave Mr Townsend was not who he said he was.
The 51-year-old said: “He asked me to help me and I did, but it’s got me into huge debt.
“I fell for this person and I just wanted to help him so much. I know I have been a fool but these are the things we do for love.”
Latvian politician Artis Pabriks’ image has been used by scammers online
(EPA)
She added: “He said he was lonely, he’s serving in Syria, his wife had passed away and he just wanted someone to speak to.
“He said he’d been watching me on Facebook – I don’t know what that means.”
After initially chatting on Facebook, they continued on Google Hangouts but never once video-called – as Mr Townsend said he wasn’t allowed to at his base.
He told Ms Bulmer…
