A British widow who lost her entire life savings to romance fraudsters died in a car crash in Ghana, an inquest has heard, bringing a tragic end to a years-long financial and emotional exploitation that drained up to £1 million from her.
Janet Fordham, 69, suffered fatal injuries on 14 February 2023 after the vehicle she was travelling in left the road in Ghana’s Oti region. She had travelled to the West African country months earlier in October 2022 after becoming entangled in a series of online romance scams.
Her financial downfall began in 2017 when she joined online dating platforms and met a man posing as a British Army sergeant stationed in Syria. He convinced her he needed help transporting gold bars to the UK, a classic romance fraud tactic that eventually cost her around £150,000.
Over time, the deception escalated. Family members told Devon Coroner’s Court that she was repeatedly targeted by different scammers, including individuals posing as diplomats and professionals. In total, she is believed to have lost between £800,000 and £1 million through bank transfers, cash withdrawals, and other payment methods.
As her finances collapsed, Fordham sold her home and land, exhausted her savings, and moved into a caravan on her son’s property in Honiton, Devon. Despite repeated intervention attempts by her family, banks, and police, she continued sending money abroad.
Her daughter-in-law, Melanie Fordham, told the inquest that efforts to stop her included warnings, police contact, and even restricting access to cash. But Fordham repeatedly bypassed safeguards, withdrawing large sums daily and using multiple channels to move money.
Police confirmed they spoke to her on several occasions between 2017 and 2022 regarding suspected fraud. However, officers said she declined to fully engage, limiting their ability to act further.
Matters escalated further when she was later contacted by another man, known as Kofi, who claimed he could help recover her lost funds. He said he was working in Ghana and became romantically involved with her, eventually persuading her to travel there.
She reportedly flew to Ghana believing she was also pursuing a relationship and possible marriage, with plans to meet members of Kofi’s family. On the day of the crash, the pair were travelling together when their vehicle left the road.
Kofi, who was driving at the time, later pleaded guilty to driving offences and received a suspended sentence and fine. Detectives confirmed there was no evidence of any third-party involvement in the crash itself.
Detective Sergeant Ben Smith of Devon and Cornwall Police told the court that Fordham had been a long-term victim of organised fraud, but said she had retained decision-making capacity throughout the period.
The coroner, Philip Spinney, recorded a narrative conclusion, stating that Fordham died from a head injury sustained in a road traffic collision, and noted the extensive financial losses she suffered in the years leading up to her death.
Family members described a woman gradually consumed by manipulation and financial pressure, despite repeated attempts to intervene.
Her son, Mel Fordham, said in a fundraising appeal that the family had sought help from banks, doctors, solicitors, and police, but felt they were unable to prevent the outcome.
He said they were “absolutely powerless to step in,” adding that although concerns about her vulnerability were repeatedly raised, no formal intervention could be made.
