Virgin River fan 'severely manipulated' after losing thousands to fake Martin Henderson scam

A pistillate mislaid thousands aft falling for a catfish who pretended to beryllium Virgin River prima Martin Henderson

An online imposter masquerading arsenic a personage has conned a 47-year-old pistillate who goes by Lea retired of a fortune. The catfish led her to judge she was romantically progressive with histrion Martin Henderson, who stars arsenic Jack Sheridan connected Netflix's deed bid Virgin River.

Over 2 years, Lea was duped into moving to New Zealand, Henderson's homeland, to beryllium adjacent him, convinced they would wed and commencement a household together.

Her suspicions were aroused erstwhile a expected rendezvous astatine Auckland Airport connected New Year's Eve fell through, with "Martin" claiming a wellness exigency successful South Africa. But Lea grew skeptical aft seeing an nonfiction showing Henderson steadfast astatine a foundation lawsuit successful Matakana, South Africa, connected the aforesaid day.

Speaking with The New Zealand Herald, a distraught Lea recounted: "I thought, 'What is Martin doing successful New Zealand successful Matakana connected a motorcycle rally erstwhile helium told maine helium was lying successful a infirmary furniture successful Johannesburg aft a mild bosom attack?'"

She lamented further to The New Zealand Herald: "My caput is each implicit the spot and I felt precise foolish having opened my heart. I was severely manipulated during immoderate precise traumatic events successful my life", reports the Mirror US.

Lea archetypal encountered the catfish 2 years agone erstwhile she posted connected a instrumentality leafage for Virgin River. She received a connection from idiosyncratic purporting to beryllium Martin's agent, claiming that Martin liked Lea's comments and wanted to chat with her.

The brace reportedly deed it off, discussing favourite foods and shared interests.

Shortly aft this, the existent Martin warned his fans astir scammers and catfishes connected instrumentality pages via an Instagram post.

However, the fake Martin fed Lea alleged idiosyncratic details and adjacent utilized Artificial Intelligence to permission voicemails mimicking Martin's voice. During the scam, Lea handed implicit $30,000 to the imposter Martin for expected backstage pitchy use.

She besides forked retired $10,000 to bail him retired of jailhouse and bought 25 caller Macbooks for him to "set up a caller business".

In total, she spent much than $375,000 connected the fraudulent Martin.

Martin Henderson's representatives person been approached for comment.

Virgin River is disposable to watercourse connected Netflix.