Imagine losing everything you've worked for, not through bad luck, but at the hands of someone you thought cared for you. This is the devastating reality faced by Caitlyn, a mother of two, who was left penniless after falling victim to Tinder predator Christopher Harkins. The story, brought to light by BBC Disclosure, unveils a pattern of deceit and manipulation that targeted multiple women.
Harkins, who presented himself as a successful businessman on the dating app, lured Caitlyn into a fake investment scam. He met her on Tinder in London in 2020. He initially tried to convince her to go on holiday with him, a common tactic. When she declined due to financial constraints, he offered to "help" her by promising to double her money through his foreign currency exchange business.
Caitlyn, who was recently separated from her children's father, trusted Harkins. She sent him a total of £3,132, a sum that represented her savings. She was vulnerable, and he exploited that vulnerability. He used the alias Christopher Telfer to gain her trust.
When Caitlyn asked for her money back, Harkins claimed his bank account was frozen and demanded more money to release the initial investment. This is where the manipulation intensified. He pressured her, even suggesting she take out loans.
But here's where it gets controversial... When Caitlyn expressed doubt, Harkins became aggressive and threatening. He cut off communication, leaving her desperate and alone. She was too scared to report him to the police and never recovered her money.
This wasn't an isolated incident. Harkins, a prolific romance fraudster, targeted at least 30 women over nearly a decade, using dating sites to find his victims. He is currently serving a 12-year prison sentence for crimes against 10 women in Scotland, including rape, assault, and fraud, where he swindled over £214,000. His scams included fake holidays and requests for money for his business. He also pressured women to take out loans, even using their identities to obtain loans himself. One woman was forced into bankruptcy, and others struggled with debt and mental health issues for years.
After being exposed in a newspaper and arrested in Scotland in early 2020, Harkins fled to London, where he continued his scams under a fake name. In January 2023, he was jailed for another fraud, having conned £16,700 from another woman. The BBC investigation uncovered further alleged frauds by Harkins of almost £70,000.
Caitlyn discovered the extent of Harkins' crimes after reading a BBC article. She has since decided to report him to the police.
What do you think? Do you believe the dating apps should take more responsibility for preventing these kinds of scams? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
