NSW tops reported rates of dating scams, with loved ones of romance fraud victims speaking out on their behalf
For almost a decade, Katie* has been desperately trying to protect one of her loved ones from "master manipulators".
Even though she is no longer his wife, Katie feels pained to see the cycle her close friend and ex-husband Mark* has been trapped in — repeatedly falling victim to various romance frauds, all in a bid to find companionship.
For three decades the pair were together and had their kids, before separating in 2015.
That same year, Mark began a relationship with a woman who was promising to be with him exclusively.
The only catch was that she needed financial help to pay off her tuition fees.
"He just spiralled when he realised it was a scam and she had been lying to him," Katie told ABC from her Sydney home.
"He thought this young woman was going to be with him."