Mum who gave 250k to string of 'down on their luck Hollywood hunks' left homeless

Jennifer Barton, 44, sold her house and car to raise money for Hollywood hunks who claimed they had fallen on hard times. When she found out they were not real, it was too late

Dan Grennan Audience Writer

14:57, 28 Jan 2026Updated 11:54, 29 Jan 2026

Jennifer Barton is now homeless(Image: Emma Trimble / SWNS)

A mum has been left homeless after handing over 250,000 to online scammers posing as Hollywood hunks and pop stars who told her they loved her. Jennifer Barton, 44, fell for slick fraudsters pretending to be stars including Alexander Ludwig, US singer Michael Ray and Westlifes Nicky Byrne.

Over the course of two years, six heartless tricksters spun an online web of lies that eventually convinced her to sell her house and car. The mum-of-two said the fakes told her they wanted to meet, claimed they were trapped in messy divorces, and insisted they needed cash fast.

Jennifer, from Kidderminster, Worcs., said: People were reaching out on Facebook and Instagram, saying they were celebrities like Alexander Ludwig and saying they wanted to meet. They wanted to chat on Telegram as it was more private.

[Jennifer found the attention 'addictive']

Jennifer found the attention 'addictive'(Image: Emma Trimble / SWNS)

Some said they were going through divorce and didnt have their own money. It was one excuse after another - one said they were arrested, another was let out of their contract, one was in London and got robbed.

They all told me that they loved me and wanted to marry me, wanted to come to England and be with me. The nightmare began when an Instagram account claiming to represent Vikings star Alexander Ludwig messaged her.

NHS worker Jennifer said: She advised me to go on Telegram, so I downloaded it. At the start, it was general everyday kind of chat with a bit of flirtatiousness.

[She sold her car and house]

She sold her car and house(Image: Emma Trimble / SWNS)

But the smooth talk quickly turned into sob stories and cash demands. She said: It was within a month or so he asked for money. He asked for around 3,000 for court fees.

"You are hoping that the guy is legit. I did wonder if I had gone too far, but I got addicted to spending this money - I have this attention from someone and I am liking this attention."

Over the course of a year, she sent him 6,000 in cash and another 6,000 in bitcoin. She said: I was seeing his pictures on Instagram with his wife and I questioned him and he told me to not believe everything you read on social media. I felt like such a fool.

[Scammers pretended to be the Westlife heartthrob]

Scammers pretended to be the Westlife heartthrob(Image: Liverpool Echo)

Last year, another Ludwig impersonator scammed her for more than 100,000, telling her he needed it to catch the original fake. Another scammer pretending to be Charlie Hunnam also promised romance but blew his cover on a video call when he clearly had a different accent.

Then came the biggest blow when a con artist posing as singer Michael Ray pressured her to flog everything she owned. Jennifer said: Michael Ray sent me a pic of himself which matched up with his Instagram.

His game was that he had a charity that could help me cover my bills for a few months and I had to send him some money.

The fake crooner told her hed send 140,000, but instead bled her dry. She said: I sold the house and I spent all the money. I got 111,000 and then apart from a bit for a hotel and a hire car, the vast majority went on him.

[Jennifer wants to warn others]

Jennifer wants to warn others(Image: Emma Trimble / SWNS)

He said I would be able to get a new house with the money and he was reassuring me that everything was going okay.

Jennifer says she finally realised the truth before Christmas when he constantly refused to meet.

She is currently living in an HMO, waiting for emergency housing and is now speaking out to warn others about the dangers of falling for online romance fraud.

She said: I ran out of money, Im currently homeless at the moment. For anyone facing anything similar, just reach out to family and friends. Especially if theyre asking you for money.

Article continues below

One of them sent me gifts and a picture I had done on a canvas. He also sent a mug with his face on.

In a heartbreaking admission, she said: There was an addictiveness, when someone gives you attention, even if its a scammer, its nice. They play on your feelings.

For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.

[Dailystar Icon]

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Choose Daily Star as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.

[Google Preferred Source Badge]

At Reach and across our entities we and our partners use information collected through cookies and other identifiers from your device to improve experience on our site, analyse how it is used and to show personalised advertising. You can opt out of the sale or sharing of your data, at any time clicking the "Do Not Sell or Share my Data" button at the bottom of the webpage. Please note that your preferences are browser specific. Use of our website and any of our services represents your acceptance of the use of cookies and consent to the practices described in our Privacy Notice and Terms and Conditions.