A woman known as ‘Lea’ has been left devastated after discovering she was the victim of an elaborate romance scam, believing for two years that she was in a relationship with Kiwi actor Martin Henderson.
Lea, 47, moved to New Zealand in December, expecting to marry Henderson, only to realise the truth when a friend sent her a news article showing the real actor in Matakana—while the scammer claimed to be in a Johannesburg hospital, according to a report in legacy media.
Lea had transferred more than $375,000 to the fraudster, lured by AI-generated voice messages and elaborate tales of corruption, jail time, and a desire to leave Hollywood.
She even took out loans and maxed out credit cards to fund supposed flights, legal fees, and luxury goods.
Netsafe warns that such scams prey on the vulnerable, leaving victims not only financially ruined but also emotionally shattered.
