Man Jailed for 5 Years After £128k Romance Scam

Maxwell Rusey, a key figure behind a romance fraud scheme that scammed a Medway woman out of over £120,000, has been sentenced to five years in prison. The sentencing took place at Woolwich Crown Court on September 23.

The case began in May 2023, when the victim approached the police after realizing she had been defrauded. She had met Rusey on a dating website, where he posed as an army officer involved in “covert operations” in Mali.

The scam deepened as the fraudster, posing as an army officer, continued to manipulate the Medway woman with promises of a future together. He told her he planned to live with her upon his return to the UK and concocted a story about needing her help to import a consignment of gold.

He claimed he was unable to cover the duties and taxes required for the gold and asked the victim to send money to his “colleague” to facilitate the import. Trusting him, she transferred a total of £128,500 across 16 transactions between 2022 and 2023 into accounts he provided.

However, detectives from Kent Police uncovered that Maxwell Rusey was behind setting up these fraudulent accounts. This revelation led to his arrest and subsequent conviction for orchestrating the elaborate romance fraud.

In March 2024, Maxwell Rusey was arrested and charged with fraud and money laundering after police found a fake passport in his possession, which had been used to open one of the fraudulent accounts. The 53-year-old subsequently admitted to money laundering and possessing items intended for use in fraud.

Detective Constable Mark Newman emphasized the severity of the crime, stating: “Romance fraud is a particularly cruel offence which causes serious emotional harm for victims, as well as the financial impact it entails.” This case illustrates the devastating combination of emotional manipulation and financial exploitation that victims of romance fraud endure.