Michel, a widowed Belgian man, traveled over 700km, convinced he was meeting French beauty queen Sophie Vouzelaud for marriage, but faced the shocking truth of being a victim of an online romance scam instead.
Belgian Man’s 700km Journey Ends in Heartbreak After Falling Victim to Romance Scam
Belgian Man’s 700km Journey Ends in Heartbreak After Falling Victim to Romance Scam
A 76-year-old man mistakenly believed he was traveling to marry a beauty queen, only to discover he had been scammed out of €30,000.
In a bizarre tale of deception, a 76-year-old Belgian man named Michel found himself traveling 760km (472 miles) with dreams of marrying a French beauty queen, only to confront the harsh reality of being the victim of an elaborate online romance scam. Michel had paid a staggering €30,000 (approximately $35,000) to scammers impersonating Sophie Vouzelaud, Miss Limousin and first runner-up in the 2007 Miss France pageant.
Upon his arrival in Saint-Julien, located 420km (270 miles) south of Paris, Michel was greeted not by the beauty queen, but by her husband, Fabien. Confused, he declared himself to be Ms. Vouzelaud’s future husband, to which Fabien responded with a rather blunt, "Well, I'm the current one."
For several weeks leading up to his visit, Michel had been communicating with someone he believed to be Vouzelaud via WhatsApp, entrapped in a false romantic relationship. The shocking encounter was captured on video by Fabien and shared online, garnering a mix of astonishment and empathy as viewers learned of Michel's disheartening experience.
Despite being faced with the truth, Michel's emotional state was palpable as he expressed regret, lamenting, "I am an imbecile," while contemplating the long journey back home. Sophie Vouzelaud attempted to explain the deceit to him and encouraged him to report the fraud to local authorities, although it remains unclear if he acted on that advice.
Romance scams have become increasingly prevalent, particularly preying on vulnerable populations. According to Action Fraud, red flags include secrecy surrounding online relationships and requests for money, especially from individuals who have never met face-to-face.
To protect against such scams, individuals are advised to be cautious of financial requests from online acquaintances, consult family or friends for support, and perform diligent research on the authenticity of profile photos. For those supporting victims, reassurance and understanding are vital, as the emotional toll of deceit can be significant.
