Dating app conman faces prison for scamming unsuspecting women

Michael Higgins, a 42-year-old resident of Livingston, Scotland, appeared in court where he pled guilty to 11 fraud offenses committed between 2020 and 2022. In total, he swindled over 18,000 pounds (more than 22,000 dollars) from 15 people. Higgins primarily operated through dating apps, where he would form relationships with women, gain their trust, and then extract money from them.

One of the victims was Fleur Brand, to whom Higgins promised cheap Apple products, claiming that his job in a financial company gave him access to such deals. The woman paid 350 pounds (about 430 dollars) for an iPad Pro, but she never received it.

Another victim, Katie Black, lost over 6,000 pounds (about 7,400 dollars) to Higgins. Higgins convinced her that he needed financial help due to issues accessing online banking, unexpected expenses for his sister's veterinary bills, and the need to support his mother, who supposedly had no money for food. The woman spent all her savings on him.

Higgins did not limit himself to scamming individuals he met online. Using connections from Deer Park and Newbattle golf clubs, he offered acquaintances paid reservations at the renowned St Andrews Old Course for 145 pounds (about 180 dollars) per person. Despite the payments, the promised golf rounds never took place. He also scammed one of his friends out of 1,475 pounds (about 1,820 dollars) by pretending to organize a luxurious three-day golf trip to Spain, which ultimately turned out to be fictitious.

One of Higgins' victims was an older woman, a retiree working for a loan company. Higgins convinced her that he urgently needed funds for leg surgery in a private hospital in London.

According to the "Daily Mail," over two years, the woman made as many as 127 transfers to his account, totaling 6,490 pounds (about 8,010 dollars). When the police informed her that she had been a victim of fraud, the woman was so deeply shocked that she vomited twice while giving her statement.

An investigation was launched after a report from Fleur Brand, one of the first women Higgins scammed. In 2022, Brand went public with her experiences, which helped reveal further victims.

As reported by the "Daily Mail," Higgins mainly used the scammed money for gambling and purchasing luxury clothing. He faces a prison sentence. He has been released on bail, and the court has postponed sentencing until next month.