The British woman was living alone and isolated when she began what she thought was a relationship with an U.S. Air Force officer named Maxwell Johnson
A British woman has revealed how she was groomed and exploited over a period of seven years by online scammers posing as a U.S. Air Force officer, ultimately costing her more than £167,000 – and her independence.
Angela*, who suffers from multiple chronic health conditions including cerebral palsy, arthritis, and diabetes, was living alone and isolated when the scam began in 2017. Then aged 60, she received a friendly message on Facebook from a man identifying himself as Maxwell Johnson, a 59-year-old airman serving in Syria.
The two began chatting regularly, and she soon found herself drawn in by his charm and empathy. Despite her physical pain and the loneliness of long, sleepless nights, the woman said Maxwell’s daily messages gave her a renewed sense of companionship and hope. He was attentive and romantic, even staying up with her during her worst nights.
Maxwell quickly expressed romantic interest, claiming he was falling in love with Angela. He complimented her appearance and, over time, persuaded her to share intimate photographs, promising they would remain private.
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She told the Mail Online: “I couldn’t help feeling flattered. This was the most attention I had had in so long. Then, he sent me a photo of himself. He was so handsome, he looked like a movie star. ‘Wow, you’re gorgeous,’ I said.
“Honestly, I found it hard to believe he was interested in me, but when I sent a photo back he was full of compliments. Later, he asked me to send him some saucy photos too, promising me they would be for his eyes only. I felt so young and excited as I took a few intimate shots and sent them on.”
However, within months, Maxwell began requesting money, initially claiming he was unable to access his funds due to military restrictions. Wanting to support him and eager for their promised reunion, the woman sent him hundreds, then thousands of pounds. She sent him £500, then more, helping cover alleged travel costs, accommodation, and legal fees to release his finances.
Despite the ongoing stream of excuses and delays, the woman remained convinced of Maxwell’s sincerity. When her daughter Georgia*, 34, grew suspicious, she tried to intervene.
“My mum genuinely believed he loved her,” Georgia later said. “He manipulated her emotionally to the point where she thought I was just jealous.”
Research by Georgia and her partner revealed that the photos Maxwell had been sending were of another man – an innocent party whose images had been stolen and used in romance scams. Still, Maxwell denied everything, claiming Georgia was trying to destroy their relationship.
Over the years, the demands for money escalated. Requests began to include Apple and Amazon gift cards, which Angela couldn’t wrap her head around. Each time a meeting was planned, Maxwell came up with a new reason to cancel, citing emergencies, paperwork issues, or military redeployments.
By 2023, the woman had sent over £167,000 and was deep in debt, owing more than £17,000 to energy providers and carers. She no longer had funds to maintain her home or pay for necessary care.
The emotional toll came to a head when, while on her way to purchase more vouchers, she crashed her car. On her way to the hospital, her phone bleeped with angry messages from Maxwell.
“If you don’t send the money, I’ll send those sexy photos to your daughter,” he threatened. He followed through while she recovered in hospital, leaving both mother and daughter devastated. “I felt sick. It was so mortifying for us both,” Angela said.
Though the injuries from the car crash were minor, the stress caused issues with her diabetes and she remained stuck in hospital.
Georgia took action. She changed her mother’s phone number, deleted her social media accounts, and contacting the police. Though initial reports were dismissed, the growing threats led the cops to take notice. Britain’s National Crime Agency (NCA) later confirmed the scam was the work of a Nigerian gang. The man calling himself Maxwell Johnson never existed.
Since then, the mother and daughter have moved house for their safety. The scammer, or members of the gang, had even messaged with details about cars parked outside their home, sparking concerns about stalking and harassment.
Angela is now speaking out in hopes of warning others. “All I wanted was a little happiness,” she said. “I may have a lot of health problems, but I have a strong heart, and I won’t let them destroy me.”
Georgia has launched a fundraiser to help restore her mother’s garden and begin rebuilding her life.
*Names have been changed in this story
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