Government warning issued after scammers used photos of defence minister to dupe women

A government warning has been issued after scammers repeatedly used photos of a 'silver fox' defence minister to dupe women - including a mum who lost £80,000.

Authorities in Latvia say they are aware of more than 100 fake profiles featuring snaps of suave Artis Pabriks.

One con artist, posing as 'Murphy Townsend', swindled Brit Sharon Bulmer out of thousands after he sent her a Facebook message saying he was "lonely' in May 2020.

But, after over two years of saying he was a US soldier who needed money to leave Syria and visit her, she discovered that he was not a real person.

It was then that the pictures he claimed were of him were actually of Mr Pabriks - the Minister of Defence.

The Latvian Defence Office said they have been "facing this situation for a long time" and have reported over 100 fake profiles using the minister's images.

Sharon, from Manchester, is still coming to terms with being conned.

The 51-year-old said: "He asked me to help him and I did, but over the time it's got me into huge debt and because I have fallen for this person.

"I just wanted to help him so much. I know I have been a fool but these are the things we do for love."

The person behind the account claimed to be a 56-year-old man from Washington DC, with a 17-year-old daughter called Helen.