Belgian man crushed after driving nearly 500 miles to meet French model he believed was his 'future wife'
After driving 472 miles to meet Sophie Vouzelaud at her home, the man, who identified himself as Michel, was met by the 38-year-old's husband, Fabien Boutamine.
"I have to film because there's a guy who just rang my doorbell, and he says 'I'm the future husband of Sophie Vouzelaud'," Boutamine said in a video he filmed during the get together. "Well, I'm the current one. There's going to be a confrontation."
How Sim Swapping Led To A $1.8M Cyber Fraud Case
After some cringeworthy back and forth, Michel admitted to Boutamine something might be "wrong."
"I think she played a dirty trick on me," Michel could be heard saying in the distance.
Read On The Fox News App
"My wife, no, it's the fake accounts," Boutamine replied. "You have to be very careful."
Fake Venmo Accounts Are Stealing Donations From Real Charities
Michel explained he had sent $35,000 to someone posing online as Vouzelaud, former Miss Limousin and Miss France 2007 first runner-up.
A bewildered and emotional Michel added that the scammer told him she had been pregnant, but later lost her baby.
"No she's still there, luckily for us," Boutamine said. "I'm sorry sir … but the problem is that Sophie puts a lot of videos on [social media] networks to say to be careful not to get hurt."
Elon Musk Scam Tricks Victims On Facebook With Tesla Hoax
Vouzelaud later joined the men to clear up the heartbreaking misunderstanding, saying "this hurts my heart."
"You must keep all the evidence and take it to the police," she cautioned Michel.
It is unclear if a police report was filed following the romance scam, though Boutamine's video, which he posted to social media, garnered nearly 11,000 likes on Instagram.
"I feel so sorry for this man…," Boutamine wrote in the caption. "Watch out for fake accounts, I'm sharing this video to show you it's real and to be vigilant! Take care of yourself."
Boutamine and Vouzelaud did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's requests for comment.
Fox News Digital's Sophia Compton and Jasmine Baehr contributed to this report.Original article source: Belgian man crushed after driving nearly 500 miles to meet French model he believed was his 'future wife'
Solve the daily Crossword

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

Wall Street Journal
an hour ago
- Wall Street Journal
KKR Faces EU Probe Into Information Provided in $26 Billion NetCo Acquisition
The European Union opened an investigation into whether KKR KKR 1.62%increase; green up pointing triangle supplied the block's merger regulator with false or misleading information before the investment firm's multibillion-dollar purchase of Telecom Italia TIT 0.72%increase; green up pointing triangle unit NetCo was unconditionally cleared by officials last year. The European Commission approved the companies' deal in May 2024, initially ruling that KKR's bid to snap up Telecom Italia's broadband network assets for up to 22 billion euros ($25.90 billion) wouldn't affect competition in Europe. The watchdog had said the merged company wouldn't be able to deteriorate the conditions for rivals' access to services due to long-term agreements that FiberCop—a joint venture between Telecom Italia and KKR—held with several companies.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Ineos-Grenadiers staff member David Rozman leaves Tour de France over doping allegation links
COURCHEVEL, France (AP) — Ineos-Grenadiers soigneur David Rozman has left the Tour de France in the wake of media reports linking him to disgraced German doctor Mark Schmidt, the convicted head of an international blood doping ring. Rozman 'has stepped back from race duties and has left the Tour,' Ineos-Grenadiers said in a statement provided to The Associated Press on Thursday, noting that Rozman had received a request from the International Testing Agency (ITA) to attend an interview. It comes following reports alleging Rozman exchanged incriminating text messages with Schmidt back in June 2012. Soigneurs are part of the support team staff, with a focus on the riders' welfare. Schmidt was convicted of treating cyclists and winter-sports athletes with blood doping for years at the culmination of the Operation Aderlass criminal investigation in 2021. Schmidt, who previously worked for the Gerolsteiner cycling team, was accused of violating drug and doping laws in nearly 150 cases from his medical practice in Erfurt, Germany. German broadcaster ARD linked Rozman – without specifically naming him – to Schmidt in a documentary aired last month, when it alleged that a man working for Ineos-Grenadiers had in 2012 exchanged incriminating messages with Schmidt. Journalist Paul Kimmage, a former rider, subsequently named Rozman in a piece he wrote for the Irish Independent newspaper, and other outlets followed suit. Ineos-Grenadiers said Thursday it was aware of the allegations but had not received any evidence nor had it been asked to take part in any inquiry. It said Rozman was informally contacted by an ITA staff member in April 2025 'about alleged historical communications' and Rozman immediately notified the team. 'Although the ITA assured David at the time that he was not under investigation, Ineos promptly commissioned a thorough review by an external law firm,' the team said. 'The team has acted responsibly and with due process, taking the allegations seriously whilst acknowledging that David is a long-standing, dedicated member of the team. The team continues to assess the circumstances and any relevant developments, and has formally requested any relevant information from the ITA.' ___ Tour de France coverage:

Associated Press
an hour ago
- Associated Press
Ineos-Grenadiers staff member David Rozman leaves Tour de France over doping allegation links
COURCHEVEL, France (AP) — Ineos-Grenadiers soigneur David Rozman has left the Tour de France in the wake of media reports linking him to disgraced German doctor Mark Schmidt, the convicted head of an international blood doping ring. Rozman 'has stepped back from race duties and has left the Tour,' Ineos-Grenadiers said in a statement provided to The Associated Press on Thursday, noting that Rozman had received a request from the International Testing Agency (ITA) to attend an interview. It comes following reports alleging Rozman exchanged incriminating text messages with Schmidt back in June 2012. Soigneurs are part of the support team staff, with a focus on the riders' welfare. Schmidt was convicted of treating cyclists and winter-sports athletes with blood doping for years at the culmination of the Operation Aderlass criminal investigation in 2021. Schmidt, who previously worked for the Gerolsteiner cycling team, was accused of violating drug and doping laws in nearly 150 cases from his medical practice in Erfurt, Germany. German broadcaster ARD linked Rozman – without specifically naming him – to Schmidt in a documentary aired last month, when it alleged that a man working for Ineos-Grenadiers had in 2012 exchanged incriminating messages with Schmidt. Journalist Paul Kimmage, a former rider, subsequently named Rozman in a piece he wrote for the Irish Independent newspaper, and other outlets followed suit. Ineos-Grenadiers said Thursday it was aware of the allegations but had not received any evidence nor had it been asked to take part in any inquiry. It said Rozman was informally contacted by an ITA staff member in April 2025 'about alleged historical communications' and Rozman immediately notified the team. 'Although the ITA assured David at the time that he was not under investigation, Ineos promptly commissioned a thorough review by an external law firm,' the team said. 'The team has acted responsibly and with due process, taking the allegations seriously whilst acknowledging that David is a long-standing, dedicated member of the team. The team continues to assess the circumstances and any relevant developments, and has formally requested any relevant information from the ITA.' ___ Tour de France coverage: