A Scottish pensioner, Maureen Gunn, has been ordered to repay £14,000 to her 89-year-old mother, Jean Marr, after being caught stealing money for an online romance scam. Gunn, 66, fell victim to scammers who posed as a 61-year-old UN Navy Captain named Joshua Jacob, using images of a gay Danish sea captain, Thomas Lindegaard Madsen, to deceive her. She sent over £50,000 to the conman, depleting her savings by selling her jewellery, car, and even cashing in part of her work pension.
In addition to draining her own funds, Gunn gained power of attorney over her mother and siphoned off close to £15,000 from her mother’s bank account. The scam came to light when family members noticed discrepancies in the finances and confronted Gunn, leading to her appearance at Edinburgh Sheriff Court. Gunn pleaded guilty to embezzling £14,521.60 and was placed on a three-year supervision order, along with 140 hours of unpaid work.
The court described the offence as “an appalling breach of trust” and ordered Gunn to repay the sum at a rate of £150 per month. The family expressed outrage at Gunn’s actions, stating that she had been manipulated by the scammer despite warnings from her relatives. Authorities have since uncovered that the fake pictures sent to Gunn were of Captain Madsen, who has spoken out against online romance scams, urging people not to send money to strangers online.
The case highlights the dangers of online scams and the devastating impact they can have on individuals and their families. Gunn’s story serves as a cautionary tale, emphasising the importance of vigilance and scepticism when it comes to online interactions and financial transactions. Gunn’s misfortune should serve as a warning to others to exercise caution and seek help if they suspect they may be falling victim to a scam.