A British woman lost about £167,000 ($221229.07) after spending six years believing she was in love with a man claiming to be a US Air Force serviceman she met on Facebook — only to discover that the man never existed.
The relationship began with romantic messages but eventually became a prolonged pattern of financial demands and emotional manipulation. When she struggled to meet yet another demand for money, the man threatened to send her intimate photographs to her daughter.
The ordeal became so frightening that the woman, identified as Helen Larn, and her family eventually moved home after those contacting her appeared to know which cars were parked outside her property.
Police later told Larn that the supposed 'Maxwell Johnson' was part of a Nigerian criminal gang. By then, she had sent approximately £167,000 ($221229.07) to the man she believed wanted to marry her.
A Facebook Message Became a Six-Year Romance
Larn had been living alone for around a decade when she began talking to Maxwell on Facebook in 2017. She had mild cerebral palsy, along with diabetes, arthritis and thyroid problems, and used a wheelchair when leaving her home.
Increasingly isolated, she believed Maxwell understood her circumstances and genuinely cared about her.
Their conversations soon moved to WhatsApp. He sent her a photograph of himself and told her he was falling for her. Eventually, after asking her to send intimate photographs and promising they would remain private, she sent them.
Maxwell then claimed he wanted to visit her in Weston-super-Mare, but said he could not access his money because of US Air Force rules and needed help paying for a flight.
Larn, who relied on sickness benefits, sent him £500 ($662.36). More requests followed.
At one point, Maxwell claimed he had reached London. Larn was overjoyed, believing they were finally about to meet.
'I can't wait to see you. I want to marry you!' he told her.
But the promised meeting never happened.
Her Daughter Tried To Expose the Deception
After around two years, Larn told her daughter Chantelle about the relationship.
Chantelle and her partner Tony investigated Maxwell's photograph and discovered that the image belonged to another person who had also reportedly complained about being targeted.
Chantelle warned her mother that Maxwell was not who he claimed to be.
But Maxwell denied it.
'It's not true,' he insisted, telling Larn that her daughter was jealous and trying to destroy their relationship.
Despite the warning, Larn continued to believe him. Her daughter changed her phone number and deactivated her social media accounts, while also reporting Maxwell to police.
But the contact resumed when Larn was approached by one of Maxwell's supposed friends.
The relationship continued, and so did the demands for money.
The Fake Romance Turned Into Blackmail
In September 2023, Maxwell asked Larn for £700 ($927.31) in Apple vouchers.
She was already struggling financially and did not feel well enough to go shopping. But she was afraid of disappointing him and losing the relationship.
On the way to the supermarket, she began crying.
She was unable to pay her own bills, yet felt unable to refuse Maxwell.
Then she crashed her car into a wall.
While she was being taken to hospital, her phone continued to receive angry messages. The tone had changed from affection to threats.
'If you don't send the money, I'll send those sexy photos to your daughter,' he threatened.
Soon afterwards, Chantelle called her mother and confirmed that the intimate photographs had been sent to her.
'When they sent me her naked photos, I was horrified,' Chantelle later said. 'That's something no daughter should ever have to see.'
The ordeal also coincided with a serious deterioration in Larn's health. Although her injuries from the crash were minor, she said the stress caused problems with her diabetes, and she spent time in hospital, including several days in a coma while doctors attempted to stabilise her.
She eventually returned home, but could no longer drive and found herself unable to get out of her wheelchair.
The Threats Followed Her Home
After six years, Larn finally realised she had been deceived.
But the threats did not stop. She received increasingly abusive messages and became frightened when those contacting her appeared to know which cars were parked outside her home.
Fearing that someone involved in the operation might be nearby, Larn and her family moved house in May.
This time, Chantelle contacted police again and the case was taken more seriously. Officers contacted the National Crime Agency, and Larn was told that the operation was being run by a Nigerian gang.
She was also told that Maxwell Johnson did not exist.
By then, approximately £167,000 ($221229.07) had been sent.
Larn was left owing around £9,000 ($11922.52) to energy companies and another £8,000 ($10597.80) to her carers.
'I Won't Let Those Bullies Ruin My Life'
Larn said she was speaking publicly about what happened to warn others, particularly people who may be vulnerable or living alone.
'These scammers are ruthless and they will take everything you have,' she said.
Despite the financial and emotional damage, she said she was determined not to let the experience destroy her life.
'I may have a long list of health problems, but I have a very strong heart, and I will bounce back from this,' she said. 'I won't let those bullies ruin my life.'
Her daughter said the family had been through a nightmare.
'Mum has been groomed and exploited by these people,' Chantelle said. She added that her mother had eventually started believing her daughter was jealous and did not want her to be happy.
'When they sent me her naked photos, I was horrified,' she said. 'That's something no daughter should ever have to see.'
After six years of believing she had found a man who understood her and wanted to marry her, Larn was left facing the financial and emotional consequences of a relationship that, she was eventually told, had never been real.
