£28,000 stolen by Romance Fraudster

Thomas Godden, 26 was sentenced to 3 years in prison for defrauding 3 men out of £28,488 all of whom believed they were in a romantic relationship with the conman. In truth Thomas Godden was in a heterosexual relationship.

The City of London police found Godden had advertised himself as a gay man on dating sites Tinder and Bumble seeking a “genuine relationship” between July 2022 and November 2024. During this time Thomas Godden had met and defrauded three men, one of whom was taken for £26,000, two of his victims were on the autistic spectrum and considered vulnerable by the police.

Detective Constable Melissa Morgan, from the Fraud Operations commented: “Godden deliberately targeted men who were seeking companionship and a genuine emotional connection.”

How to protect yourself from Romance Fraud

• Requests for money from a partner you have never met are huge red flags. Stories are sad and urgent and designed to play on your heart strings. Making it difficult to say no is a tactic. Never send money, vouchers, cryptocurrency or investment funds. Report anyone who asks for money to the dating service immediately.

• Be careful about how much information you share online. Keep social media accounts private.

• Check out the person online, search images, their business, their registration at Companies House etc. Get to know the person. Ask questions, you have time remember getting to know someone genuinely should be fun.

• Talk to you home network: Family and friends give wonderful second opinions.

• The Online Dating & Discovery Association offers further advice on how to ‘Date Safe’.