POLICE are warning of the dangers of online romance fraud after a man was sentenced to 16-months in prison for his part in the scam of a 72-year-old widower.

Last February, the pensioner, from Crook, County Durham, paid out £6,500 to cover the dowry and airfare of a Malaysian woman he had been told would marry him on her arrival in England.

However, the woman did not exist and at Teesside Crown Court this week Ibrahim Adeleke Olorunfunmi, of the New Cross Area of London, was imprisoned for his role in the dupe.

The 29-year-old originally denied conspiring to commit fraud by false representation but later pleaded guilty to charges of acquiring, carrying, using or possessing criminal property and concealing, disguising, converting, transferring or removing criminal property.

At a previous hearing, prosecutor Robin Turton said: “The Crown’s case is that the defendant and others sought to exploit an elderly gentleman’s loneliness and desired for partnership by creating a website and a false impression of a woman to extract money from him.”

Olorunfunmi travelled up to County Durham to collect £5,000 from the victim but the court heard he had played a lesser role than others but was the only person arrested.

A Durham Police spokesperson urged people never to give our credit card or account details online, adding:

“Trust your instincts, if something feels wrong it probably is. If in doubt tell someone about it, a friend or family member or the police.”

Anyone who fears they may be a victim of dating or romance fraud should contact Action Fraud on 0300-123 2040, break off all contact immediately, report the fraudster to the chat room operator and send no more money.