Cecilie Fjellhøy and Anna Rowe, two women who fell victim to romance fraud, are taking action to help others avoid similar fates. Fjellhøy, who was conned out of $250,000 (£200,000) by a man posing as a high-level diamond trader named Simon Leviev, and Rowe, who was sexually exploited by a man she believed loved her, have joined forces to raise awareness about the dangers of romance fraud. Their efforts come amidst alarming statistics that show romance fraud continues to be a significant issue in the UK.
Fjellhøy's story became widely known after she featured in the 2022 Netflix true crime documentary "The Tinder Swindler." She was duped into believing Leviev's fake job and parted with a significant amount of money to assist him with his fabricated security status. Despite having served time in prison, Leviev, according to Fjellhøy, is allegedly operating scams again in Germany following his release.
Rowe's experience led her to compile a dossier of 16 cases, including two rapes and one sexual assault. Her file on eight or nine of these cases is still under consideration by the Crown Prosecution Service. It took police two years to take on Rowe's case, highlighting the challenges victims face in seeking justice.
Together, Fjellhøy and Rowe have established LoveSaid, an initiative aimed at raising awareness and providing support programs for victims of romance fraud. They are currently fundraising to ensure these programs can offer much-needed assistance to those affected.
In October, the City of London police released data from the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau for the last financial year, revealing 8,036 reports of fraud with losses exceeding £92 million. This underscores the urgent need for initiatives like LoveSaid to combat the growing issue of romance fraud. The youngest victim Fjellhøy has been in contact with is just 16 years old, while the oldest are in their 80s.
Rowe expresses her determination to fight back against fraudsters and support fellow victims.
"Evil hasn’t won and we can’t let it win," she stated.
Despite the challenges they have faced, both women are committed to preventing others from falling victim to romance scams.
Victims of romance fraud in the UK can report incidents to Action Fraud by calling 0300 123 2040 or visiting actionfraud.police.uk. The involvement of organizations like Action Fraud is crucial in documenting and investigating these crimes.