Cape Town Woman Loses R14 Million in Alleged Christian Dating Scam

For 73-year-old Cape Town widow Roslyn Gray, joining a Christian dating site was about finding companionship. Instead, it led her into a five-year relationship that prosecutors say was part of a major romance scam.

Gray reportedly met a man using the name "Mr. Ael Alzando” on Christian Dating website. He claimed to be an Italian construction businessman who was stuck in Angola. Over time, he gained her trust and began asking for money, saying he needed help with legal costs and other emergencies. By the time the truth started to come out, Gray had reportedly lost more than R14 million.

The case has now moved into the courts. Seven people have appeared in the Muizenberg Magistrate’s Court, facing charges of fraud and money laundering. Prosecutors allege that the suspects were part of a network that received and moved the victim’s money through accounts at FNB, Standard Bank and Absa. The case has been postponed to August 20 for formal bail applications.

What makes this Christian dating scam especially worrying is how long it lasted. This was not a stranger asking for money after one conversation. The alleged scammer spent years building a relationship before the financial requests grew.

That is a common pattern in an online dating scam. A criminal may first talk about family, work, faith, or everyday life. The relationship feels normal. Then, slowly, money becomes part of the conversation. The numbers show that this is not a small problem.

The FBI recorded 24,000 reports of romance scams in the US in 2025, with reported losses of about $943 million. Among people aged over 60, 7,626 victims reported about $389 million in losses that year.

These figures also show why an elderly romance scam can be so damaging. Older people may have years of savings, retirement funds, or other assets. A scammer who gains their trust can cause enormous financial harm.

So, what should people watch for?

Some romance scam warning signs are easy to spot once the pattern is clear. The person may avoid meeting in real life, repeatedly have an emergency, ask for secrecy, or suddenly need money for travel, medical bills, legal costs, or business problems. A person who says they love someone online but keeps asking for money is another major warning sign.

This type of online relationship scam is a form of social engineering scam. The criminal uses emotions and trust to get what they want. That is why victims often feel embarrassed after discovering the truth. But being fooled does not mean someone was careless or foolish.

For romance scam victims, reporting the fraud quickly is important. Banks and authorities may have a chance to trace or stop some payments if they are notified early. Anyone searching for romance scam recovery should also be careful. Taking the help of experts and reporting to the authorities can help.

Gray’s case offers a simple warning: a dating profile can look genuine, and a relationship can feel real, but money should never be sent simply because someone has earned trust online.