A woman from Scotland shared a harrowing experience of being scammed by a fraudster she met on a dating app, who turned out to be a convicted rapist and predator. The woman, known as Shannon, disclosed how she and her new boyfriend, Christopher Harkins, who is notorious as the ‘Scottish Tinder Swindler’, decided to plan a holiday together. Initially excited about the spontaneous decision, Shannon soon realized things were amiss when Harkins requested more money for the trip, citing flight availability issues.
Despite feeling uneasy about the situation, Shannon transferred a total of £3,247 to Harkins for the holiday. However, her suspicions grew when he became evasive in his communication. A disturbing phone call further confirmed Shannon’s fears that Harkins had ulterior motives.
The revelation led to the exposure of Harkins’ fraudulent activities, as five other women shared similar stories of financial, sexual, and physical abuse at his hands. Harkins was eventually convicted of multiple offenses, including rape and assault, receiving a 12-year prison sentence in July 2024. He confessed to defrauding over £200,000 from nine women.
This case sheds light on the dangers of online dating and the importance of vigilance when forming relationships with strangers.