A serial romance fraudster who targeted vulnerable gay men on dating apps, leaving one victim in over £26,000 of debt, has been jailed for three years in a case highlighting the devastating emotional and financial toll of such crimes.
Thomas Godden, 26, of no fixed abode, was sentenced at Canterbury Crown Court on 17 February after pleading guilty in December last year to three counts of fraud by false representation. The City of London Police, which led the investigation, said his deliberate targeting of men on Tinder and Bumble netted him a total of £28,488.
A calculated deception
According to police, Godden posed as a gay man seeking a relationship on the apps, but was in fact a heterosexual man already in a relationship. He “deliberately targeted men who were seeking companionship and a genuine emotional connection,” said Detective Constable Melissa Morgan from the force’s Fraud Operations team. Two of his three confirmed victims were on the autism spectrum.
Investigators said Godden would quickly establish what his victims believed were genuine romantic relationships before convincing them to send money for what he claimed were day-to-day living expenses and travel, promising repayment. In reality, he used the funds to finance his own lifestyle.
Between July 2022 and November 2024, he defrauded three men. One victim, identified only as ‘Victim C’, lost £26,483.06 between September 2022 and November 2024 and was left in “significant debt”. ‘Victim A’ lost £1,869.90 between July and August 2022, while ‘Victim B’ was defrauded of £135.50 in November and December of the same year.
Manipulation and digital evidence
When challenged about returning the money, Godden’s tactics turned manipulative and hostile. Police stated he would make excuses, threaten to cut off contact, deploy emotional blackmail, and in some cases threaten self-harm to maintain control and prolong the fraud.
Digital evidence recovered during the investigation revealed telling internet searches on his devices, including “Can you go to jail for romance scamming?” and “Can you go the police if someone owes you money?”. The evidence also confirmed he was in a relationship and was using the dating apps with the sole intention of obtaining money.
After reports were made to Action Fraud – now replaced by the national Report Fraud service run by the City of London Police – the case was referred to detectives. While two victims were later reimbursed by their banks, one was left with substantial, long-term financial consequences.
Broader epidemic of romance fraud
This case sits within a worrying national trend. Romance scams are a growing problem in the UK, with over £106 million reported lost to such fraud in the 2024/25 financial year alone—a 9% increase in reports. The average loss per victim is £11,222, though older victims often see much higher sums.
The emotional impact on victims is profound, often involving feelings of betrayal, embarrassment, and lasting vulnerability. These scams are frequently orchestrated by sophisticated criminal networks and are becoming more complex with the use of technology, including AI-generated imagery and videos to create false identities.
In court, Godden’s actions were deemed a “calculated pattern of offending”. Fraud by false representation is an ‘either-way’ offence carrying a maximum sentence of 10 years. Sentencing is based on the harm caused, measured by financial loss, and the offender’s culpability, which includes factors like planning and deliberately targeting vulnerable individuals—placing Godden’s actions in a high culpability category.
In response to the case, a Bumble spokesperson said the company was “deeply concerned and saddened”, reiterating that fraudulent activity is not tolerated on its platform. The company advised members to watch for red flags such as any request for money, pressure to move quickly, or attempts to move conversations off the app.
General safety advice from major dating platforms like Tinder and Bumble includes never sending money or financial information, protecting personal details, staying on the app for initial communications, conducting video calls before meeting, and always arranging first meetings in public places.
Police have emphasised that the name “Becky Godden” is unrelated to this case; she was a victim in a separate, high-profile murder investigation.
