Love scam that preys on lonely

AFRICAN women are targeting lonely Liverpool men in a money-making scam, trading standards officers have warned.

Thousands of letters, many including pornographic pictures, are being mailed to the city from Ghana.

In them, the women write of their dreams of meeting and marrying Englishmen, and promise sexual favours in return.

But today the long-distance lonely hearts requests have been branded a con and people are being warned to throw them in the bin.

The Liverpool ECHO has received hundreds of letters from desperate woman wanting to place adverts in our newspaper.

Many include photographs of a topshelf nature.

In one letter, 20-year-old Newbeth Owusu Gyambrah lists her hobbies as walking, cycling and watching blue movies.

Anyone who gets involved in correspondence is soon asked for cash in return for more letters and photographs.

Another letter, from Regina Hagan, lists her interests as "reading, dancing and watching sexy films".

She then asks for money to pay for " postage and communication facilities".

Liverpool Trading Standards are investigating the source of the mail, which has all come from Ghana, West Africa.

Principal trading standards officer Peter Devaney said people should be wary of sending money abroad.

He added: "There are a lot of scams originating from outside this country, offering a variety of opportunities, including friendship.

"People who get involved soon find themselves pestered from other companies looking for money.

"People have got to beware of anything unsolicited they receive which asks for money. Our advice is never send off money unless you are absolutely sure about what you are getting."

The ECHO'S own agony aunt, Fiona Caine, says that anyone looking for true love should not be fooled by these sort of letters.

She said: "It is an out-and-out con and, sadly, it undermines the genuine penfriends schemes which are run by reputable organisations.

"If you respond to these women you can guarantee that your 'relationship' with her is not exclusive - she will be trying the same scam with as many people as she can.

"Further, despite the photos, you can't even be sure you are corresponding with a woman!

"t is just as likely to be a man writing. And how will you ever know?

"Such scams simply make it all the more difficult for genuine lonely hearts who, if they are honest and careful, can develop loving and satisfactory relationships."