Woman felt 'stupid' over fake Rag'n'Bone Man scam

A woman said she felt "sick and angry" after being conned out of more than £2,000 by a scammer posing as Rag'n'Bone Man.

She told the BBC she paid the money to someone claiming to be the singer – known for hits including Human – after they contacted her on Instagram.

"He sounded legit, a very legit person," said the woman, who we are calling Mary.

The 53-year-old, from Norfolk, said she wanted to tell her story to warn others to be careful about who they talk to on social media. Rag'n'Bone Man's representatives have been contacted for comment.

The scam began in May when Mary commented on a post made by the actual Rag'n'Bone Man – real name Rory Graham.

A short while afterwards, she received a private message from someone posing as the multi-Brit Award winning artist.

"I was really excited. I didn't think a person like that would message me back," she said.

The scammer said they wanted to continue the conversation on the private-messaging app Telegram.

There, they convinced Mary to transfer £250 to pay for a membership card, which would supposedly allow her to see him perform in the studio.

She said: "I asked him if he was the actual person - he said, 'What makes you think I'm not?'

"I felt like that it was actually him, because of the way he was, the way he drew me in."

The con continued from there. The scammer told Mary that they had "fallen madly in love" with her.

Mary also received messages, supposedly from the singer's management team, telling her she needed to pay £1,500 to meet the man she described as an "idol".

The fake Rag'n'Bone Man stepped up the pressure as well.

"He was getting a bit blunt and little bit nastier about the money. He kept pushing and pushing me - there was so much pressure and it was absolutely doing my head in. So, I fell for it and sent him the money," she said.

The demands for money continued. At one point, Mary was asked for £5,000 until she realised that she had been conned.

"I just feel absolutely stupid. I just fell for it because they are so clever," she said.

"I just fell hook, line and sinker for him. I just thought it was the real Rag'n'Bone Man and found out he was just a scammer."

In total, Mary paid out £2,408, which she knows she is unlikely to see again.

Other people have been conned in similar ways. Last year police warned "romance scams" were a growing problem.

Stephen Maunder from Norfolk Trading Standards said scammers impersonating celebrities were often “masters” at grooming people.

He said if you find yourself in a situation similar where someone is asking for money online, you should talk to someone about it.

He said: “Talk to someone you trust. Does it sound right? Having that conversation with someone you know, hopefully that might dispel some of the myth that they try and build up.”

Mary contacted the BBC after reading about a woman in Suffolk who had been tricked by a fake Kevin Costner.

She said she wanted to tell her story to prevent others falling into the same trap.

"It could happen to anybody and it really does make you feel sick and angry that they can do this."

You can get more tips about staying safe online at BBC Own It.

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