Record-Breaking Romance Scam Leaves Dutch Man €1.8 Million in Debt
UDEN, NETHERLANDS – A Dutch man has been defrauded of a staggering €1.8 million – the largest amount ever seen in the history of kees van der Spek’s fraud investigation program, “Kees van der Spek Unmasked.” the case, involving a complex web of deceit spanning multiple countries, highlights the devastating impact of romance scams and the difficulty in convincing victims even when presented with irrefutable evidence.
The victim, a 70-year-old widower with limited family contact, fell prey to “Joyce,” a woman he met through a dating app in 2023. Administrator Mirjam Hummeling, who became involved in the case, quickly identified suspicious financial activity. ”There were already 42,000 euros in suspicious transactions” during the initial stages of the relationship, she stated.
Joyce claimed to be awaiting a considerable inheritance in Ghana but repeatedly required funds for medical expenses related to a severe gluten allergy. The victim continued to send money, believing he was “saving her.” However, investigators discovered no evidence of Joyce’s existence. The scam escalated,with the man borrowing as much as €300,000 from friends,despite having previously lost €1.5 million to a similar scheme in 2015.
Kees van der Spek and his team traced the purported financial manager, “Veronica Stephane,” a bank employee, to an African man named Adama living near Rome. “We now have the ultimate proof that it is indeed a scam,” van der Spek declared. “It’s not a woman in a bank, but an African man in Italy.”
A direct confrontation with Adama, who was later located in Paris, yielded minimal results. He dismissed his involvement, claiming he “just forwarded something,” before blocking all contact and refusing to provide a requested confession video.
Despite overwhelming evidence – including photo analysis and international financial tracking – the victim remains steadfast in his belief in both Joyce and a second woman, ”Margret,” who he expects to arrive on Thursday. “I still believe it,” he reportedly told investigators.
“He continues to hope for a legacy that will never come,” lamented Mirjam Hummeling, adding that the man’s debts continue to mount. Kees van der Spek chose to air the case as a warning to others, even though the perpetrator remains at large and the victim remains unconvinced.
