Online Suitor Promised Marriage, Took Thousands From 83-Year-Old Woman

JOHNSTON COUNTY – An 83-year-old Johnston County woman lost $4,500 after an online acquaintance professed his love, talked about marriage, then convinced her he needed money before he could travel to meet her.

The woman reported the scam to the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office in August.

According to the victim, a man who identified himself as Greg developed an online relationship with her and expressed love and affection. He told the woman he wanted to travel to Johnston County, where the two would eventually meet and marry.

There was a problem, he claimed. Before making the trip, he had expenses that needed to be paid.

The woman was persuaded to send several payments totaling approximately $4,500 through Bitcoin and gift cards before realizing the promised relationship was a scam. She stopped sending money and contacted authorities before suffering additional losses.

The case follows a familiar pattern seen repeatedly in Johnston County and across the nation — an online stranger quickly establishes an emotional relationship, discusses marriage or plans to meet in person, then encounters a financial problem that only the victim can supposedly solve.

In several cases previously reported by JoCoReport, the losses have been staggering.

In September 2025, an 82-year-old western Johnston County woman reported losing approximately $1 million over more than a year to a person she believed she was romantically involved with. After she began questioning the man, she was directed to a supposed attorney, also a scammer, and lost another $6,000.

In August 2025, a 62-year-old Willow Spring-area woman lost nearly $273,000 — her life savings — to a man she met on Facebook who claimed to be a U.S. Army brigadier general stationed in Syria. He repeatedly requested money for purported travel and documentation expenses.

In July 2025, a Johnston County woman in her 70s reported losing approximately $500,000 over five years to a man who claimed to work in the oil industry in Scotland. He even convinced the woman they had been legally married over the telephone. She took out a personal loan and cashed in a life insurance policy before the money was gone.

A Selma woman lost $26,242 in Bitcoin in 2025 to a scammer posing as a four-star U.S. general stationed in Africa.

The similarities extend further back. In 2021, a 47-year-old Johnston County woman sold her home and converted $83,000 in equity to Bitcoin for a man she met on a dating website. He claimed he had recently left the military overseas and needed money before traveling to the United States to marry her. After confirming he received the money, he disappeared.

The latest victim avoided a much larger loss by recognizing the warning signs and contacting law enforcement.

Warning Signs Of A Romance Scam

Authorities encourage residents — and family members of older adults who spend time online — to watch for common warning signs:

• Be suspicious when someone you have never met quickly professes love or begins discussing marriage.
• Never send cryptocurrency, gift cards, wire transfers or cash to an online romantic interest you have not met in person.
• Be wary of stories involving unexpected travel costs, legal fees, medical emergencies, military obligations, business problems or money needed to come to the United States.
• Repeated excuses for not meeting face-to-face or participating in a live video call should raise concerns.
• Independently research photographs, names and details provided by the person. Stolen photographs and fabricated identities are commonly used.
• Do not provide banking information, account numbers, Social Security numbers or other sensitive personal information.
• If a friend or family member raises concerns about an online relationship, consider what they are saying before sending money.
• Anyone who believes they are being targeted should stop sending money and contact law enforcement immediately.

The Johnston County cases show scammers may spend weeks or months building trust before asking for money. Once funds are sent through gift cards, cryptocurrency or overseas transfers, recovering the money can be extremely difficult.