Misguided Love: Belgian Man Falls for Romance Scam, Travels 700km to Meet 'Fiancée'

In a cautionary tale about romance fraud, a Belgian man fell victim to a scam, believing he was engaged to a former Miss France, only to discover he had been deceived.

A Belgian pensioner, Michel, took a staggering 760km (472 miles) journey to meet what he believed to be his future wife, Sophie Vouzelaud, a former Miss France contestant. Unfortunately, he was met with a painful reality when he arrived at her home in France, only to discover he had been the victim of an elaborate online romance scam.

The 76-year-old, who had been communicating with a person posing as Vouzelaud via WhatsApp, claimed to have sent €30,000 (approximately $35,000) to the fraudsters over the course of several weeks, fully convinced he was in a romantic relationship. Upon reaching Sophie’s property in Saint-Julien, he made a startling assertion to her real husband, Fabien, stating, "I am the future husband of Sophie Vouzelaud," to which Fabien retorted, "Well, I'm the current one."

In a video shared online by Fabien, Michel said, "I am an imbecile," reflecting on the unfortunate realization of his plight while contemplating the long return journey.

Ms. Vouzelaud, now 38, took the time to explain to Michel that he had been scammed, and both she and Fabien urged him to report the incident to the authorities, although it remains unclear if he has done so.

Romance fraud, where individuals are misled into believing they are in a genuine relationship only to be exploited financially, continues to be a growing issue, particularly among vulnerable populations such as the elderly. According to Action Fraud, the signs of such scams include secretive behavior regarding the relationship and monetary requests from someone met only online.

Preventative measures are crucial in this digital age—individuals are advised to remain cautious about any requests for money from online acquaintances and to discuss such relationships with trusted friends or family members. Additionally, reverse image searches can help verify the authenticity of profile photos encountered online.

For victims of romance scams, emotional support is essential. Loved ones are encouraged to reassure victims that they are not at fault and to stay informed about the nature of these scams to better assist them in their recovery process.