A man who pretended to be a woman on a dating app to defraud a victim of more than £9,000 has been given a suspended prison sentence.
Adam Mowle, 34, from Harwich in Essex, created a fake identity on Tinder to manipulate a man into sending him money. Claiming to face financial hardship, he convinced the victim to transfer a total of £9,165 over 11 months.
At Ipswich Magistrates’ Court, Mowle admitted to acquiring criminal property. He was sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended for two years. The court also ordered him to repay the full amount, complete 25 days of rehabilitation, and pay £687 in costs.
Using the alias “Jenna Smith,” Mowle built an online relationship with the Suffolk-based victim. The pair exchanged intimate messages and discussed a future together. During this time, the victim made 78 separate payments between January and November 2019.
Mowle maintained the deception by fabricating stories about serious illness, a father with cancer, and ongoing financial struggles. In reality, he spent the money on his daily expenses and caring for his horse.
Prosecutor Fred Batstone described the victim as vulnerable, noting he had recently gone through a divorce. He also said the scam involved “sophisticated and complex” deception, including voice changes during phone calls.
Defence lawyer Clare Lockwood told the court that Mowle had experienced trauma and struggled with mental health issues. She added that he felt “devastated, ashamed, angry and upset,” and claimed he had convinced himself he was the fake persona.
In a victim statement, the man said the fraud had “destroyed” his life. He revealed that, in an attempt to recover his losses, he turned to gambling and ended up losing £93,000, leading to severe depression and a loss of trust in relationships.
The case was investigated by Suffolk Trading Standards after the victim reported the incident in April 2020. Senior officer Lee Nunn said the conviction at least acknowledged the calculated nature of the romance fraud.
A spokesperson for Tinder reiterated that user safety remains a top priority. The platform encourages users to verify profiles using its photo verification feature and to follow safety guidance available within the app and online.
