Five years ago, Maartje’s relationship ended. Using the payout from their jointly owned home, she set off on a world trip. After a tough battle with breast cancer, she didn’t want to wait any longer to fulfil her dreams. Through social media photos, she shared her adventures with followers. One day, a message popped up in her Instagram inbox from someone called 'Mark'. He complimented her on her beautiful pictures and attractive looks.
"I was alone, so his attention was welcome. Soon, we were chatting daily. Mark was American. He wouldn’t say exactly where he lived he claimed to be quite wealthy. I scrutinised his photos to learn more about him. He promised we’d meet soon."
"}},{"componentType":"sectionTitle"},{"componentType":"paragraph","title":"He Won Me Over","richBody":{"value":"Mark was a forex trader and investor. "Coincidentally, I had planned to explore crypto after my trip. Mark explained his work in a way I could understand. After two months of messaging, he asked if he could help me invest. He sent documents that looked trustworthy. My money would start working for me. Mark never pressured me. When I got home, I decided to transfer €5,000 to him: an amount I could afford to lose without pain."
After paying, there was silence. "I assumed Mark was busy. He had said it might take a while. I convinced myself everything was fine. Just when I started feeling suspicious, he sent another sweet message. He reeled me back in."
Six months later, Mark claimed he was in trouble and needed Maartje’s help. On a wallet she could access, millions were supposedly waiting. He could only unlock them if she transferred €20,000
"}},{"componentType":"sectionTitle"},{"componentType":"paragraph","title":"Immediate Regret","richBody":{"value":"Maartje: "I asked him countless questions because, of course, it sounded strange. I even found an online article about scams describing this exact scenario. Mark reacted slightly irritated when I confronted him. ‘You can see the millions on the wallet, can’t you?’ And yes, I saw a large sum displayed, and he managed to persuade me. The night before my birthday, I transferred the money."
But Maartje instantly regretted it and reversed the €20,000. Mark noticed and begged her to help him. His situation was dire, he said.
"On my birthday, I sent the money again. Forty-five minutes later, it was gone. I instantly knew I’d been scammed. Why didn’t I listen to all those warning signs?"
"}},{"componentType":"sectionTitle"},{"componentType":"paragraph","title":"Trust Shattered","richBody":{"value":"Maartje kept in touch briefly with Mark, who claimed not to understand what had happened. Her plan to start her own business had to be shelved. Her savings were nearly gone. Maartje took a salaried job.
"I had to focus on myself and my mental and physical health. I lost not only my money but also the hope of a new love. It took six months before I started to recover."
Today, Maartje is doing well. She works as an independent massage therapist and is in a happy relationship, but her trust has suffered irreparable damage. Her advice:
"If you’re unsure about an investment, involve family, friends, or better yet, an expert from your bank."
It’s hard to give exact figures on relational investment fraud, says Kim, fraud expert at ING: "Last year, the Dutch Fraud Helpdesk received 130 reports. This year, it’s already over 170. That’s likely just the tip of the iceberg. Shame keeps many victims silent. Like Maartje, victims are often around 40 or older, have built up some wealth, and are open to growing it. Contact with the scammer is intense and entirely digital. Victims are showered with attention.
If the conversation suddenly shifts to investment success stories, cut off contact immediately: you’re dealing with a scammer. Already transferred money? Beware of follow-up scams where fraudsters promise to recover your funds for a fee. Beyond financial loss, the emotional damage is often severe. Seek advice and support from your bank or anonymously via Geldfit. For moral support, there’s an online peer community at Victim Support Netherlands. You’re not alone."
"}},{"componentType":"sectionTitle"},{"componentType":"paragraph","title":"How to prevent relational investment scam","richBody":{"value":"(This article originally appeared in De Volkskrant.)
"},"textLinks":[{"url":"/en/bank/safe-banking/types-of-fraud-and-scam/relational-investment-scam","text":"Read more on how to spot these scammers and protect yourself."}]},{"componentType":"linkList","iconTitle":{"icon":{"transformBaseUrl":"https://assets.ing.com/transform/f52818ae-9791-4ef7-9799-d3f991c2e3b4/Functionalities-Lock_Confirmation_Outline","type":"image","width":32,"altTextNL":"\"\"","original":"https://assets.ing.com/m/5b979bd44d912a17/original/Functionalities-Lock_Confirmation_Outline.svg","extension":"svg"},"title":"Safe banking"},"textLinks":[{"url":"/en/bank/safe-banking/report-fraud","text":"Report fraud to the Hotline"},{"url":"/de-ing/veilig-bankieren/soorten-oplichting-fraude","text":"More types of scams and fraud"},{"url":"https://zowerktfraude.nl/","text":"Recognising & preventing fraud"},{"url":"/en/bank/safe-banking/5-bs/update-your-browser-and-operating-system","text":"Which browser, even with screen reader"}]}]}}}