A British widow who lost up to £1 million in a series of romance scams has died in a road crash in Ghana after travelling to meet a man she had been in contact with online, an inquest has heard.
Janet Fordham, 69, suffered fatal injuries in a collision on February 14, 2023, after travelling to the country months earlier. Devon Coroner’s Court heard she had been the victim of sustained fraud over several years, which left her financially devastated and living in a caravan at her family home in Honiton.
Years of online scams led to financial ruin
The inquest heard that Fordham began using online dating platforms in 2017, where she was targeted by individuals posing as romantic partners.
One man claimed to be a British Army sergeant major working overseas and persuaded her to send large sums of money, allegedly to help transport gold bars to the UK. Over time, she transferred significant amounts through bank transfers, cash withdrawals and other means.
As reported by the Daily Mirror, her family later discovered she had lost vast sums of money, with estimates suggesting the total ranged between £800,000 and £1 million. The financial losses forced her to sell her home, use her pension, and borrow money from relatives, leaving her in a vulnerable position despite repeated warnings from family members.
Family raised concerns as scams continued
Fordham’s daughter-in-law expressed concern during the inquest, stating that the family had tried to intervene but struggled to stop her from sending money.
She said Fordham appeared unable to fully accept that she had been scammed and continued transferring funds in the hope of recovering earlier losses.
The Daily Mirror reported that even after banks restricted her ability to transfer money electronically, she withdrew cash daily and used alternative methods to continue sending funds abroad.
Police were contacted multiple times over the years, but officers confirmed she did not fully engage with investigations.
Trip to Ghana linked to new contact
In 2022, Fordham travelled to Ghana to meet a man identified as Kofi, who had contacted her claiming he could help recover the money she had lost.
The inquest heard that their relationship developed further, with suggestions she may have intended to marry him. Despite attempts by her family to prevent the trip, she travelled to the country in October 2022.
Fatal crash during a journey in Ghana
On the day of her death, Fordham was travelling in a car driven by Kofi from Accra to the Oti region.
Detective Sergeant Ben Smith of Devon and Cornwall Police was quoted as saying by the Daily Mirror that the journey was reportedly linked to seeking family approval for marriage.
During the trip, the vehicle left the road and crashed, resulting in fatal head injuries for Fordham. Kofi later pleaded guilty to driving offences and received a suspended sentence and fine.
Police confirmed there was no evidence of third-party involvement in her death.
Inquest highlights prolonged vulnerability to fraud
The coroner recorded a narrative conclusion, stating that Fordham had been a sustained victim of fraud over several years.
Evidence presented showed she had lost a substantial amount of money and made financial decisions independently, despite concerns raised by both family and authorities.
The case highlights the long-term impact of romance fraud, which can lead to severe financial loss, emotional distress and, in this instance, tragic consequences.
