A single mother from north-west London, Gabriella Kranyik, has been scammed out of £18,000 after falling victim to a dating app user and signing up for online work. The 46-year-old, who lives with her daughter Stella, was struggling financially and looking for ways to earn extra money when she met someone named Gabriel on the dating app happn. Within two weeks of talking to him, she was convinced to start trading, believing her money would be invested. After making payments of £600 and £1,500, Gabriella was told she had made a profit of over £39,000, but was then asked to pay taxes and fees to retrieve the funds, realising it was a scam.
Having lost around £10,000, she then turned to online work to try to recover the money, only to realise this was another scam. Borrowing about £11,000 from friends and family, Gabriella felt embarrassed and humiliated by the experience. She has since launched a fundraising page to help cover her rent, bills, and repay the money owed. Despite reporting the scams to Action Fraud, no action has been taken by the police.
Gabriella’s financial stability was shattered by the scams, leaving her unable to pay her rent and bills. With a monthly salary of approximately £2,500 and high living costs, she found herself living on the edge financially. Feeling desperate, she accepted the trading proposal and soon found herself entangled in a web of deceit and financial loss. Despite feeling guilty and ashamed, she hopes to raise the £18,000 to rebuild her life and repay her debts.
Gabriella’s story serves as a cautionary tale, highlighting the importance of trusting one’s instincts and being wary of online schemes promising large profits. Her experiences have left her fragile and shaking, but she is determined to share her story to prevent others from falling into similar traps. Happn, the dating app where Gabriella met the scammer, emphasised the importance of user safety and vigilance when interacting with strangers online.
As Gabriella continues her journey towards financial recovery, she hopes her story will serve as a lesson to others to be cautious and listen to their gut feelings when faced with potential scams. The road to recovery may be challenging, but Gabriella remains determined to overcome the setbacks she has faced.