More than $1 million lost by Fleetwood Mac backup singer in romance scam.

Liza Jane Likins was unaware that updating her social media profile after the passing of her husband of 23 years would have a profound impact on her life.

Linda Ronstadt's backup singer, Likins, was scammed out of over $1 million in cash and crypto funds by a Nigerian romance scammer while on tour with Fleetwood Mac.

Over two years, Likins became entangled in a "complicated scam" involving a man who posed as an Australian gold miner and used stolen photos of a German life coach to win her over online.

I sold my house after realizing I had nothing left. Fortunately, I didn't sell my car due to seeing the 'Social Catfish' show.

"Initially, I considered ending my life because my husband left me in good physical condition, and after two years of being scammed, I was left with only my car and clothes. I didn't know how to proceed."

I was in a dire financial situation, with no money for food, utilities, or even a doctor. My electricity was shut off twice, and I lost 40 pounds due to Covid. It was a difficult time, and I was struggling to keep up with my bills.

Immediately after making a minor modification to her social media account, she encountered issues with the scammer.

"Putting a sign on myself that says "scam bait" is a big mistake, Likins said. That's how it all started after my husband passed away and I put on my Facebook profile that I was now a widow."

The scammer was initially perceived as a "perfect gentleman" by Likins during their initial online conversations, and although she was not interested in anything romantic at the time, he would still write to her "every day for six months."

"When my husband passed away, on my Facebook profile, I put in there that … I was now a widow. Big mistake. That's like putting a sign on yourself that says scam bait." — Liza Likins

"She recalled how one day he sent her pictures, each with a complex story attached, which were stolen from a German life coach's public site on Facebook. The photo that convinced her was of him standing next to a statue of Buddha, and she thought, "This person might be okay.""

Likins was unaware that the web of lies had already started. She believed her online suitor was the director of a gold mine and was currently in the Australian outback with a team of 20 men on his last job before retirement.

As time was running out on the expedition, he was already $8,000 in debt. To make matters worse, if they wanted to communicate, he would need to receive $1,000 and cryptocurrency to purchase the necessary Wi-Fi to use his phone and stay in touch while working in Australia.

Likins alleged that they communicated with the scammer through Facetime using a "very advanced" technique involving audio and video components. When the video elements froze, the scammer would say, "I can't hear you anymore, let's switch back to texting."

The scammer's requests for money grew increasingly complex, but Likins remained captivated by his display of 24-karat gold bars and demanded her home address to securely deliver a safe filled with $100 bills to her doorstep.

Likins stated that he had a video of a purple helicopter taking off, and after verifying all the details, including the specs, address, email, and phone number, he received emails confirming the safe's delivery to his home address.

"I upgraded the logistics company shipping after the scammer promised it would arrive in three days. That was the first significant amount of money I spent."

Nothing was ever delivered to her home.

"Likins stated that he went to the airport four times to pick up a person, as he received pictures of his name on a boarding pass arriving at a specific day and time. However, upon arriving at the airport, he discovered that the flight did not exist, and the person was not there."

Likins was accidentally exposed to a scam when she watched a TV show called "Social Catfish." She went into shock after seeing a story similar to hers unfold on TV and wrote to the producers to connect.

"Social Catfish" (a company that uses AI reverse search technology to verify online identities) discovered the scammer's true identity through research.

"I would go to the airport, and of course, . . . that flight did not exist and neither did he." — Liza Likins

Although Likins lost everything, she discovered resilience through an unlikely source and eventually connected with the genuine individual in the images she received from the fraudster.

"Likins explained that the reason for the picture of him with Buddha was because he is a German spiritual and business life coach, similar to Tony Robbins in the US."

She added, "He advised me on how to heal myself, reminded me to love and forgive myself, and encouraged me to keep living. Furthermore, he emphasized the importance of sharing my story to help others avoid being scammed like me."