Latest news with #SophieVouzelaud
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Yahoo
This Viral Romance Scam Cost One Man $35K—Don't Fall for It
Online dating is more and more popular these days. Not only is it convenient, but it also offers more available singles than, say, your local coffee shop. While it does make meeting new people quite easy, these platforms also give way to more scammers. And with fake profiles, excessive flattery, or someone asking you for emergency money, it's all too easy to fall into the trap. Luckily, we turned to the experts to share all you need to know about common catfishing romance scams and how to keep yourself safe. What is catfishing and why is it so common in online dating? Though catfishing isn't a new concept, it's certainly rampant in the era of online dating and social media. When you're talking to someone online and something seems a little off, you may be dealing with a catfish. 'Catfishing used to simply refer to people who deceive others into going on a date with them by presenting themselves in a false and favorable way,' says Betsy Chung, PsyD, clinical psychologist and relationship expert at RAW dating app. 'Nowadays, you see people using catfishing to gratify their own sexual desires, meet their emotional needs for a long-term relationship, have an extra-marital affair as retaliation to hurt the victim or even try for financial gain.' One man lost $35K to a catfish posing as a beauty queen Recently, a Belgian man made headlines after traveling over 400 miles to meet Sophie Vouzelaud, a French model, after they had been exchanging correspondence and cultivating a romantic relationship—only the person he was communicating with wasn't Sophie at all. The man, Michel, had been talking with who he thought was the runner-up to Miss France in 2007 for weeks—even providing the scammer with $35,000. When he arrived at Sophie's home, he was met by her husband, who broke the news to him. Though unfortunate, situations like these are all too common, and though this individual fell into the scammer's trap, the signs pointed toward a fishy situation. Here, a look at some of the red flags to look out for. Red flags that may mean you're talking to a romance scammer If it feels like the person you're talking to has stepped out of a fairytale or a dream, it's probably too good to be true. 'Scammers will shower you with flattery, doing everything they can to get on your good side so you feel special and trust them quickly,' says Brooke Keels, PhD, LPC-MHSP, Chief Clinical Officer and LPC-Supervisor at Lighthouse Recovery. 'They might make big promises or say things like, 'I've never felt this way about anyone before,' even if you haven't known each other that long.' Chung adds that if you're having trouble finding the 'human' side to somebody, it's likely that you're talking to just 'parts' of somebody and not the whole person. Here, some easy-to-spot signs you may be talking to a catfish: You've been talking to this person for a while, and you still haven't spoken to them face-to-face (whether via video or in-person). Regardless of the excuses they might give for avoiding a video call, whether it be a broken camera or poor connection, this should be cause for suspicion. Their stories don't seem to add up. Though your judgement might be clouded by the promises they make or the flattering words they use, it's crucial to take a step back and think logically about the big picture. They're always making excuses for things or why they can't meet. Would you pursue a relationship with someone if you had no intention of ever meeting them in person? You divulge a lot more about yourself than they to you. Keeping their story vague allows them to keep up their charade more easily. You can't seem to find any information/profiles about them on the internet. While yes, some people prefer to live life offline, this person should have at least some online trace you can use as a reference. The most common catfishing scams, according to experts Thanks to technology, catfishing scams have changed over time. Still, some common ones include international or military romance scams, Sugar Daddy scams, or someone claiming to be an old connection from high school, explains Terri Orbuch, PhD, relationship expert at Orbuch says the catfisher may search for someone's photo online or come across their information and reach out, claiming that the person is amazing before even meeting. 'Another version of this is if the perpetrator starts by complimenting someone's profile before asking for money to help with a sick child or family member,' she says. Military romance scam One of the most common catfishing romance scams is military romance. 'In this one, the scammer creates a fake profile using pictures of a good-looking person in a military uniform and pretends to be stationed overseas,' says Keels. 'They use the fact that they're 'in the military' to play on people's emotions, saying things like communication is hard because of their job or location, making it easier to trick their target into believing them.' Rich crypto investor scam Another common scam is the rich crypto investor. Keels says that in this case, the scammer acts like a successful cryptocurrency trader or investor, showing off a life of luxury and promising their target they'll get rich, too. It won't be long before they ask for money or personal info, claiming that they need it to invest or transfer funds. The sugar daddy scam is similar as the person catfishing poses as a wealthy person who promises gifts or trips in exchange for affection. However, they manipulate people into giving them money or private information. Celebrity scams As stated earlier, if the situation seems too good to be true, there's a chance it is. While in some instances these sorts of scams include romantic elements, scammers will pose as celebrities and attempt to form bonds with vulnerable, unsuspecting fans and proceed to ask for money for false charities, VIP access and more. These scammers scout out targets by spotting commenters on celebrities' social media posts or followers of a specific star. How to avoid romantic scams According to Orbuch, the best way to avoid getting scammed romantically is to listen to your gut and go slowly. It's also important to research the person you're talking to by checking their online presence, looking into their photos, and spotting any inconsistent or inaccurate information. She also says not to be afraid to ask questions, as it's reasonable to want to know more about the person you're trying to connect with. Another way to avoid a catfish is to video call as much as you can. 'Scammers will often make excuses to avoid showing their face, but if they're the real deal, they'll want to connect in a more personal way,' says Keels. 'If they're always dodging video chats or giving weird reasons for not being able to, that's a huge red flag, and a genuine person will be excited to share that face-to-face connection, even if it's through a screen.' For more ways to protect yourself from scams Watch Out for This New Gmail AI Scam—Here's How to Keep Your Account Safe Consumers Warned About Advent Calendar Scam—Tips to Avoid Being Tricked by 'Too-Good' Deals Beyond the Swipe: SEI Club's Proven Approach to Safe and Authentic Matchmaking Solve the daily Crossword
Daily Mail
20-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Catfish scam sees Belgian lose £26K and driving 500 miles across Europe to meet French model believing she was his 'future wife'
A Belgian man who drove almost 500 miles to meet his 'future wife' for the first time faced huge disappointment when he finally came face-to-face with the woman he'd fallen for online. In an Instagram video translated by the New York Post, a man named Michel revealed he drove 472 miles across the border to France to meet model and former beauty pageant contestant Sophie Vouzelaud, 38. The clip documented him arriving at Sophie's door - but instead of getting his fairytale ending, he was met by the model's actual husband, Fabien Boutamine. The Miss France 2007 runner-up, who is currently pregnant, denied knowing the stranger, prompting her shocked husband to say to him: 'Well, I'm the current one [her husband]. There's going to be a confrontation'. Michel claimed that he believed he was going to wed Sophie and that he had previously sent a whopping $35,000 (£26,000) to a woman who he believed to be the model. '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"', said Fabian. 'Well, I'm the current one. There's going to be a confrontation' he continued. It appears the reality of the situation then dawned on Michel - whose face was never revealed during the video - when he emotionally admitted that something wasn't quite right. 'I think she played a dirty trick on me' he added. Fabian appeared resigned to the fact that another potential suitor had been scammed online. 'My wife, no, it's the fake accounts, you have to be very careful' he warned the stranger. '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'. The shock factor was ramped up a notch when Michel confessed he had wired $35,000 to the suspected imposter who alleged she was pregnant and had later lost her baby. Michel also brought out his phone which purported to prove text message exchanges between himself and the fake Sophie. The exchanges seemed to touch the expectant mother, who could be heard saying, 'this hurts my heart'. 'You must keep all the evidence and take it to the police' she added. Sophie, who boasts 296,000 followers, shared the bizarre video on her Instagram page along with a caption detailing how 'sorry' she felt for Michel. 'I feel so sorry for this man' she wrote. 'Watch out for fake accounts, I'm sharing this video to show you it's real and to be vigilant! Take care of yourself'. The digital era has made it easier than ever for scammers to take advantage of unwitting victims. In May, a woman reached out for help after discovering her mother might be falling head over heels for a fake Owen Wilson. The unnamed woman shared her concerns on US forum Reddit, along with an alleged video of the Hollywood star, 56, telling her mum she is an 'amazing woman'. The poster said she tried to convince her mum that it was the workings of artificial intelligence after finding a 'plethora of red flags' such as the man mainly contacting her mother via WhatsApp voice calls. In the clip, the purported Wedding Crashers actor - who in real life was busy shooting his latest action thriller Runner in Australia - appeared to be the result of sophisticated computer graphics; most notably given away by static eye movements and a grainy facial complexion. The woman said her and her sister had tried tirelessly to inform their mother it was a grand 'scam' but lamented that 'she's just not hearing us'. After reading her plight, many users agreed that it was indeed a hoax, with one person shockingly advising the siblings to create their own AI Owen Wilson and siphon money from her to prove it. According to her mother, the odd pairing came about after a chance meeting at Yahtzee with some friends. Though the exact location was withheld, the poster said the man claimed to have mistaken her mother for someone he knew in 'real life' when he saw her at the dice game. She then explained that the two only spoke by WhatsApp, voice calls and FaceTime, which installed doubts over the genuinity of their relations. She concluded her post by asking fellow users for advice 'to definitively prove to her [mother] this is a scam'. One viewer immediately noticed the actor's 'robotic' nature, writing: 'Wow that's scary, you can tell the tone is off and robotic. Face also looks slightly different than Owen but wow that's crazy for someone who wouldn't know any better.' 'His nose and eyes are also... not human lol,' chimed another. 'Tell her to watch his nose lol,' said one person.
Mint
20-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Mint
Belgian man travels 750 Km to meet ‘future wife', is greeted by her husband instead
In a bizarre case of online deception, a Belgian man's dream of meeting his 'future wife' turned into an awkward and heartbreaking reality check, one that ended with him face-to-face not with the woman of his dreams, but her real husband, Fox News reported. The man, identified only as Michel, reportedly drove nearly 750 kilometres (around 472 miles) from Belgium to France to meet French model Sophie Vouzelaud, or so he believed. Vouzelaud, a former Miss France runner-up, is a well-known public figure. But when Michel arrived at her doorstep, he was met by her husband, Fabien Boutamine, who documented the unexpected encounter in a video that has since gone viral. 'I have to film this,' Boutamine is heard saying in the clip. 'There's a man at my door saying he's Sophie Vouzelaud's future husband. But I'm her current one.' The video captures a tense and bewildering exchange, with Michel appearing genuinely convinced that he and Vouzelaud were in a relationship. He had reportedly been in touch with someone impersonating the model online, and claimed to have sent a staggering $35,000 (approx. ₹ 29 lakh) to the scammer over time. Sophie Vouzelaud later addressed the incident on Instagram, urging followers to be cautious of fake accounts using her name and images. 'I feel so sorry for this man… Please be vigilant. I'm sharing this video to show that this really happened. Be careful and take care of yourselves,' she wrote in French. The incident has sparked conversations about online romance scams and the emotional toll they take on victims. Michel, clearly shaken, could be heard saying in the video, 'I think she played a dirty trick on me,' to which Boutamine replied, 'It's fake accounts. You have to be very careful.' While no formal action has been reported so far, the case serves as a sobering reminder of how easily people can be manipulated online.
NDTV
19-07-2025
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Belgian Man Drives 500 Miles To Meet 'Future Wife', But Finds Her Husband Instead
A Belgian man's epic romantic journey across nearly 500 miles culminated in a bewildering and awkward confrontation recently, leaving him stunned and a French model and her husband utterly baffled, according to Fox News. Identified only as Michel, the determined Belgian embarked on a 472-mile drive to meet what he believed was his future wife, French model Sophie Vouzelaud, at her home. However, his grand gesture took an unexpected turn when he was met at the doorstep not by Vouzelaud alone, but by her 38-year-old husband, Fabien Boutamine, as per the news article. The bizarre encounter was partly captured on video by Boutamine himself. "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 recounted in the footage. "Well, I'm the current one. There's going to be a confrontation." What followed was a cringeworthy exchange, with Michel seemingly convinced of his fantastical claim, while Boutamine tried to ascertain the reality of the situation. Sophie Vouzelaud shared the video on Instagram, captioning it in French. When translated to English, it reads: "I feel so sorry for this man... Beware of fake accounts. I'm sharing this video to show it's real and to urge everyone to stay vigilant. Take care of yourselves." Watch the video here: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sophie Vouzelaud (@sophievouzelaud_off) Eventually, faced with the undeniable presence of Vouzelaud's actual husband, Michel reportedly conceded that something might indeed be "wrong" with his perception of events. The incident left all parties involved in a state of disbelief, highlighting a bizarre case of mistaken reality. "I think she played a dirty trick on me," Michel could be heard saying in the distance. "My wife, no, it's the fake accounts," Boutamine replied. "You have to be very careful." Michel explained he had sent $35,000 to someone posing online as Vouzelaud, former Miss Limousin and Miss France 2007 first runner-up.
Telegraph
19-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Scam victim travels 500 miles to find French beauty Queen ‘lover' is married
A Belgian man travelled nearly 500 miles to meet a French beauty queen who he thought was his future wife – only to find out that he had been the victim of a romance scam. The man, who called himself Michel, turned up at the home of Sophie Vouzelaud, in Saint-Julien and announced: 'I am the future husband of Sophie Vouzelaud.' Her husband, Fabien, came out and said to Michel: 'Well, I'm the current one.' Ms Vouzelaud is a former Miss Limousin and Miss France 2007 runner-up. She has nearly 300,000 followers on Instagram and posts frequently about her life on social media. Michel, 76, believed that he had been speaking on WhatsApp to the French model for weeks and had even sent £25,000 – which he thought was going to be paid back. 'I think she played a dirty trick on me,' Michel said. In desperation, Michel showed the husband his phone, and the string of messages exchanged between himself and the person he believed to be Ms Vouzelaud. 'My wife, no, it's the fake accounts,' Fabien replied. 'You have to be very careful.' Soon, Michel realised that he had been swindled, and told the couple: 'I am an imbecile.'
