TEARS trickled down Claire Spencer’s cheek as her beau begged to borrow £1,000 after claiming he hadn’t eaten for days and feared starving to death.
But all wasn’t as it seemed. Jack Miller, 45, turned out to be a scammer who used an Italian model’s photos before eventually conning her out of hundreds of pounds.
Using a fake name, he invented a heartbreaking backstory about being a single dad to Henry, 12, after his wife died from cancer and quickly confessed he “was in love” with divorcee Claire online.
The mum, 50, from Winsford, Cheshire, was conned out of £500, which plunged her into debt for months due to living “hand to mouth” with her four dogs.
She sent him money after multiple pleas for help from ‘hotel builder’ Jack, who claimed to be stranded in Cambodia and unable to afford food because he lost his wallet.
Claire told The Sun: “When I realised it was a romance scam, I wanted to throw up and felt humiliated.
“I wanted to cry but physically couldn’t, I felt violated and embarrassed. It took about five weeks for me to smile again.
“I lied to one of my best friends to get the money. He thought he was lending me money to help pay my bills – instead I was paying for a fictional hotel bill, food and…