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Würzburg Police Warn After €200,000 Romance Scam Targets 70-Year-Old

The victim reported the fraud after years of Facebook contact with a woman claiming to be in England.

Overview

  • Police say the contact began in early 2022 on Facebook and the victim sent money in multiple transfers.
  • Payments were purportedly for hospital stays, tax bills, a mortgage, and other urgent expenses.
  • The losses total nearly €200,000, and a criminal complaint was filed on Friday, January 23, 2026.
  • Investigators describe the love-scamming pattern of building trust, starting with small requests, then escalating to large sums.
  • Authorities urge the public to verify any financial appeals from online acquaintances, with no arrest or recovery reported so far.