It’s a story that sounds like something out of a movie, but for one Sunshine Coast grandmother, it was a terrifying reality.

A 59-year-old grandmother of nine found herself at the centre of an international drug smuggling case in Brazil—all because she fell victim to an online romance scam.


After months of uncertainty and fear, Ms Watson was finally acquitted by a Brazilian court, which recognised that she was an innocent party caught up in a sophisticated scam.

Now, she’s free to return home to Australia, but her ordeal serves as a sobering warning for all of us—especially those who are active online and looking for companionship.


Ms Watson’s nightmare began two years ago when she struck up an online friendship with a man who introduced himself as Norman Leach, an ex-army officer supposedly suffering from PTSD.

Their chats soon blossomed into a romance, and Norman convinced her to fly to Brazil to meet him in person.

'He introduced himself as an ex-army officer who was on his own suffering PTSD, and so I thought I’d be a nice person and give him someone to talk to,' Ms Watson told Seven News.


Once in Brazil, Ms Watson was asked to sign what she believed were investment documents and was persuaded to take them to Sri Lanka, as Norman claimed he couldn’t travel there himself.

She was handed a small suitcase containing the documents just hours before her flight.

Unbeknownst to her, hidden inside a secret compartment was nearly 1.5kg of cocaine.

Ms Watson said she did look inside the bag before her flight but didn’t notice anything suspicious.

Unfortunately, Brazilian customs officials did—and she was arrested on the spot.

After months in Sao Paulo’s notorious Santana Women’s Penitentiary and a lengthy legal battle, a Brazilian judge finally ruled that Ms Watson was not guilty of drug smuggling.

The court accepted that she had been manipulated as part of an elaborate online scam, and even prosecutors agreed there was no evidence she knew about the drugs.

'I am so happy and relieved that they actually listened to me and listened to my story,' Ms Watson said after her acquittal.

Her husband of 16 years, Stephen, had been sceptical from the start. He questioned why she needed to travel overseas for paperwork and why these 'friends' couldn’t simply send the documents to Australia.

'You don’t know him personally. You just met him online. You don’t know what they are,' he recalled telling her.

Sadly, Ms Watson’s story is not unique. Online romance scams are on the rise, and Australians—particularly those over 60—are increasingly being targeted. According to the ACCC’s Scamwatch, Australians lost over $40 million to romance scams in 2023 alone, with many victims lured into criminal activity without their knowledge.

Scammers often prey on lonely people or those looking for companionship, building trust over weeks or months before asking for money, favours, or—shockingly—international travel.

To stay safe online, be cautious of anyone who asks you to travel or send money—genuine friends or romantic interests won’t pressure you into risky situations.

Never agree to carry packages or documents for someone you’ve only met online, as you could unknowingly become involved in illegal activity.

Always do your research if someone’s story seems off or if they avoid meeting in person or via video.

If you’re unsure about a new online relationship, talk to trusted family or friends, and report any suspicious behaviour to Scamwatch or your local police.

Ms Watson’s ordeal is a powerful reminder that anyone can fall victim to a scam—no matter how savvy or cautious you think you are.

Scammers are experts at manipulation and can be incredibly convincing.

If you or someone you know has experienced something similar, please share your story in the comments below.

We can help protect each other and make our community safer for everyone by talking openly about these issues.


Have you or a loved one ever been targeted by an online scam? What advice would you give to others? Let us know your thoughts and experiences below—your story could help someone else avoid a similar fate.