Pensioner faces homelessness after being scammed out of $40,000 for two years
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In the digital age, the quest for companionship has transcended the traditional boundaries of geography and culture, with social media platforms becoming the new frontier for romance. However, this modern love story doesn't always have a fairy-tale ending.
For Tracey Skeates, a 63-year-old disability pensioner from Caboolture, Queensland, what began as a hopeful connection on social media turned into a heart-wrenching tale of deception and financial ruin.
Tracey's journey into the world of online romance began in October 2023 when he met 'Charlotte’, a woman who claimed to be from the United States.
He recalled that when 'Charlotte' first reached out and asked if he lived alone.
'She had recently broken up with her boyfriend, she was looking for someone to talk to,' Skeates said.
Their relationship blossomed quickly, with Tracey, driven by a desire for companionship, sending $500 within a week to help Charlotte fix her phone.
As their virtual connection deepened, Charlotte expressed her wish to move to Brisbane, marry Tracey, and celebrate Christmas together in Australia.
Moved by her words, Tracey began sending larger sums of $3,000 and $4,000, totalling $40,000 from his inheritance, in the hope of making this dream a reality.
But as the story unfolded, the red flags began to multiply.
Charlotte's attempts to fly to Australia were thwarted by a series of dramatic events, from being assaulted and left in a coma to having heroin planted in her luggage.
'The first time she tried to fly over, she said she got assaulted on the way to the airport and was in a coma,' he said.
Charlotte also told Skeates that her phone camera was broken, keeping all their communication limited to Instagram and WhatsApp calls throughout their relationship.
Despite these setbacks, Tracey's love and trust persisted.
'I was sending her 80 per cent of my disability pension every two weeks. I was hardly eating, all in the name of love,' he said.
The awful truth emerged when Tracey, plagued by doubts, conducted a reverse image search on Charlotte's profile photo.
The search revealed that the images belonged to Yisela Avendano, a Colombian bikini model with no connection to the scam.
Skeates said his 'stupidity' had turned his life from 'having a dream' and enjoying his final years to 'having no f*****g hope.'
But despite this discovery, Tracey continued to send money.
'I don’t know why. They get so in your head that you’re at boiling point all the time, and you lose the ability to think straight,' he said.
The consequences of this scam were devastating. Tracey's financial stability was shattered, his relationship with his daughter Tamika strained, and his dreams of travelling around Australia dashed.
Now Tracey ‘a few weeks away’ from living in a tent and having to give up his beloved pet parrot.
Romance scams are a growing concern in Australia, with ScamWatch reporting over 27,000 victims and close to $20 million lost in 2024.
In Queensland alone, 656 people have fallen prey to these scams, losing a total of $3 million. Scammers often exploit the festive season, preying on the vulnerable and lonely with promises of love and companionship.
Have you or someone you know encountered similar scams? How do you protect your online privacy? Share your experiences and tips in the comments below.
For Tracey Skeates, a 63-year-old disability pensioner from Caboolture, Queensland, what began as a hopeful connection on social media turned into a heart-wrenching tale of deception and financial ruin.
Tracey's journey into the world of online romance began in October 2023 when he met 'Charlotte’, a woman who claimed to be from the United States.
He recalled that when 'Charlotte' first reached out and asked if he lived alone.
'She had recently broken up with her boyfriend, she was looking for someone to talk to,' Skeates said.
Tracey Skeates thought he found love, but he was actually scammed out of $40,000. Credit: prostooleh / Freepik
Their relationship blossomed quickly, with Tracey, driven by a desire for companionship, sending $500 within a week to help Charlotte fix her phone.
As their virtual connection deepened, Charlotte expressed her wish to move to Brisbane, marry Tracey, and celebrate Christmas together in Australia.
Moved by her words, Tracey began sending larger sums of $3,000 and $4,000, totalling $40,000 from his inheritance, in the hope of making this dream a reality.
But as the story unfolded, the red flags began to multiply.
Charlotte's attempts to fly to Australia were thwarted by a series of dramatic events, from being assaulted and left in a coma to having heroin planted in her luggage.
'The first time she tried to fly over, she said she got assaulted on the way to the airport and was in a coma,' he said.
Charlotte also told Skeates that her phone camera was broken, keeping all their communication limited to Instagram and WhatsApp calls throughout their relationship.
Despite these setbacks, Tracey's love and trust persisted.
'I was sending her 80 per cent of my disability pension every two weeks. I was hardly eating, all in the name of love,' he said.
The awful truth emerged when Tracey, plagued by doubts, conducted a reverse image search on Charlotte's profile photo.
The search revealed that the images belonged to Yisela Avendano, a Colombian bikini model with no connection to the scam.
Skeates said his 'stupidity' had turned his life from 'having a dream' and enjoying his final years to 'having no f*****g hope.'
But despite this discovery, Tracey continued to send money.
'I don’t know why. They get so in your head that you’re at boiling point all the time, and you lose the ability to think straight,' he said.
The consequences of this scam were devastating. Tracey's financial stability was shattered, his relationship with his daughter Tamika strained, and his dreams of travelling around Australia dashed.
Now Tracey ‘a few weeks away’ from living in a tent and having to give up his beloved pet parrot.
Romance scams are a growing concern in Australia, with ScamWatch reporting over 27,000 victims and close to $20 million lost in 2024.
In Queensland alone, 656 people have fallen prey to these scams, losing a total of $3 million. Scammers often exploit the festive season, preying on the vulnerable and lonely with promises of love and companionship.
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