The case involved 26-year-old Thomas Godden, who between July 2026 and November 2026 presented himself as a gay man on Tinder and Bumble while secretly in a heterosexual relationship. Investigators say Godden formed apparent romantic connections with three men and then asked them for cash under the guise of everyday expenses, travel costs and other urgent needs. One victim sent more than £26,000, and the combined amount taken was reported as approximately £28,488. This conduct culminated in a guilty plea to three counts of fraud by false representation in December 2026 and a custodial sentence on 17 February 2026 at Canterbury Crown Court.
Police and prosecutors described the offences as deliberate and methodical rather than accidental disputes over money. Two of the men targeted were identified as having particular vulnerabilities, including being on the autism spectrum, which investigators say made them easier to manipulate. When victims asked for repayment, the defendant allegedly resorted to excuses, threats to end contact, or emotional coercion such as warnings about self-harm to maintain control. These tactics are typical of what authorities classify as a romance scam, a form of fraud that exploits emotional trust to obtain funds.
How the deception played out
According to the investigation, Godden cultivated rapidly developing relationships that the victims believed were genuine. He positioned himself as seeking long-term companionship and used that trust to request money for reasons presented as plausible: bills, travel, or temporary cash flow problems. The messages and interactions were constructed so the men felt they were helping someone they loved. Investigators flagged the repeated promise of repayment as a common technique in scams; the money was instead used to support the defendant’s lifestyle. This pattern—emotional investment followed by financial extraction—is central to many cases the police identify as romance fraud.
Investigation and evidence
The offences came to light after victims reported their concerns to Action Fraud, and the matters were investigated by the City of London Police Fraud Operations team. Officers recovered digital material that undermined the defendant’s claims, including internet search history and messages showing an intent to obtain money rather than pursue a genuine relationship. The inquiry also revealed that Godden was in a relationship during the period he targeted other men, information that contradicted his representations on the dating platforms. Prosecutors treated the case as a clear example of fraudulent misrepresentation rather than a creditor dispute.
Digital traces and admissions
Among the digital evidence were searches such as “Can you go to jail for romance scamming?” and similar queries about reporting debts to police, which investigators relied on to demonstrate awareness and planning. Messaging records showed repeated requests for funds and follow-up attempts to justify delays in repayment. In some interactions, the defendant allegedly used intimidation or emotional threats when victims pressed for money back. That combination of online searches, conversation logs and contradictory personal information was central to securing guilty pleas for fraud by false representation.
Sentence and responses
Godden pleaded guilty to three counts of fraud by false representation in December 2026 and received a three-year prison sentence on 17 February 2026 at Canterbury Crown Court. Detective Constable Melissa Morgan of the Fraud Operations team said the offender targeted people seeking companionship, abused their trust and caused serious financial and emotional harm. The Crown Prosecution Service noted that romance fraud preys on the special trust present in intimate relationships and that the sentence reflects the calculated nature of the offending. A spokesperson for Bumble told reporters the company is concerned by abuse of its platform, urged users to be wary of requests for money and outlined guidance to keep conversations on-app, report suspicious profiles and trust instinctive warnings.