But we obtain outcome in the 4th, a selfie Paul claims is him in their military uniform.

It leads us to your Instagram page of Juan Avalos, a actual life marine whoever web web page features exactly the same pictures delivered to us by Paul. He has got uploaded a caution about catfish because therefore numerous fraudsters have actually been making use of their photos to scam individuals.

Juan told us: “this business will state such a thing to anybody and lie. We come across countless communications, also if We demonstrate to them it is not me personally they nevertheless don’t think it since they’re therefore deeply in love. “

For the following weeks that are few my producer continues to talk with Paul Richard regarding the phone when I listen in.

Paul speaks gushingly about their life that is future together their intends to proceed to the united kingdom to be with Kathryn once their military solution finishes.

The conversations develop longer and much more regular, punctuated with kisses, flirtatious commentary and a normal ask for photos.

There is only one thing standing when it comes to our future delight – Paul’s son is unwell and desperately requires medical assistance. He wants $800 (?620) to fund young Rick’s therapy.

Paul states we must spend the bucks to their nanny in the usa, a woman called Marcy Krovak.

It is a breakthrough because, unlike Paul Richard, Marcy Krovak is really a genuine individual.

Mule: somebody who transfers cash or items for the catfish

Catfish require genuine people to grab cash for them as some type of recognition has got to be shown whenever gathering deals. Many of these cash mules are innocent victims tricked into forwarding on money, other people come in regarding the scam.

We do not understand whether Marcy is with in so we head to Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania, where she lives on it or not.

We deliver her a tiny bit of money to see if she’s going to select it.

The following 3 days are invested sitting in a blacked out van outside Marcy’s neighborhood Western Union.

We spot lots of ladies who seem like her going inside but every time it is a false security.

Then, just even as we think our sting has unsuccessful, we get a notification telling us the money happens to be acquired making use of Marcy’s ID.

But it is been gathered 400 kilometers away – in ny.

Whenever we ask Marcy what’s happening, she claims she actually is additionally a target of your catfish: “we never ever would definitely visit Western Union and select that cash up nevertheless now someone’s used my information and gone and selected it up. It had been perhaps maybe perhaps not me personally, I didn’t do so. Please find this individual. “

The unveil: Unmasking the catfish

It appears as though we’ve struck another dead end, then again our catfish makes a blunder.

Paul Richard inadvertently will leave title label – Dan Coolman – using one of their WhatsApp photos.

We sort through all of the Dan Coolmans in Nigeria and now we find one that operates a barbershop in Ibadan. He is utilizing the number that is same our catfish happens to be calling us from.

Dan Coolman is another false title, but we find the phone is registered to Daniel Joseph Okechkwu.

We then find a Twitter account with that title plus the exact same profile photo due to the fact one utilized by Dan Coolman.

We now have finally uncovered the genuine identification of your catfish.

We go for Ibadan, but because of the time we make it he’s gone. The doorways to your barber store are locked and locals state this have a glimpse at the website has been closed for days.

There was an image of our catfish posing with a person in the region of the building, but no-one generally seems to understand where Daniel Joseph Okechkwu went.

After 3 months of speaking with our catfish, we opt to phone him and make sure he understands whom we actually are.

Interestingly, he does not hang up the phone directly away. He sticks to their tale about being fully A us soldier and insists his title is Paul Richard. He denies scamming anybody and then comes to an end the decision.

It is like a disappointing end to our search, but later on that evening he calls right straight straight back.

This time around, Daniel Joseph Okechkwu confesses. He claims oahu is the very very first relationship scam he is ever drawn and which he is forced to get it done because of the closure of their barber store.

He seems genuine in which he apologises for the real method he’s got addressed us.

Our catfish states he desires to stop being truly a love fraudster. But he requires us to provide him cash, to make certain that he is able to manage to stop tricking other individuals from their money.

It is a classic catfish twist. They never give up the scam even though they are rumbled.

You can view BBC Panorama’s Billion-Pound Romance Ripoff on Monday November that is 19th at on BBC One, or a short while later on BBCiPlayer.