Dunedin woman fears $800,000 lost in online romance scam with fake American general

Police are warning the public to stay alert to online scams after a woman came forward, believing she may have been defrauded of nearly $800,000 over several years by a man she met online, who allegedly claimed to be an American general.

Sergeant Matthew Lee said a woman came to Dunedin’s central police station last week asking for advice about a document she had received.

The woman had been sending money, purchasing vouchers, and transferring cryptocurrency and funds to a man who claimed to be a retired American general, Lee said.

The woman had been sending money, purchasing vouchers, and transferring cryptocurrency and funds to a man who claimed to be a retired American general, Lee said. Photo / File

“The arrangement had allegedly been going on for about five years, and she thought she could have potentially sent around $800,000.”

Investigators believe the documents she was provided were not genuine, and the image she was sent of the man is suspected to have been digitally altered.

Enquiries into the matter remain ongoing.

Lee said the case was a reminder of the risks posed by online relationships involving financial requests, particularly from people not known in person.

“Any time someone asks you online for cash or something of monetary value, it should raise a red flag.”

He said police urged the public to seek a second opinion from trusted friends or family before transferring money or sending goods to online contacts.

Police also advise people to be cautious with unsolicited emails and phone calls, to check email addresses carefully, and to avoid clicking links from unverified sources.

Ben Tomsett is a multimedia journalist based in Dunedin. He joined the Herald in 2023.