A convicted fraudster is trawling on-line courting websites in search of unsuspecting victims he can con out of money.
Michael Higgins makes use of Tinder and Bumble in search of love, claiming to be a high-rolling businessman with a number of high-end properties and luxurious vehicles.
However the Report can reveal he was convicted for conning individuals into shopping for low cost digital items – then swiping the money and failing to ship the objects.
Police are actually probing contemporary claims he's doing the identical to ladies he meets on courting websites.
Unsuspecting Fleur Model informed how she fell for the 39-year-old after seeing his profile on Bumble.
However she was left fuming after handing over money for digital items that by no means confirmed up – and needed to demand her a refund.
The Report has additionally spoken to a sufferer from his earlier conviction, who warned individuals to keep away from him on courting websites as a consequence of his scams.
Fleur, 32, met Higgins after seeing his Bumble profile in October 2020, believing she had lastly met a “pretty man” who lured her in with “beneficiant” treats and the looks of a lavish way of life.
However weeks into their relationship, Higgins satisfied Fleur, from Edinburgh, to ship him tons of of kilos for an iPad from the electronics firm he claimed to work for.
Fleur by no means acquired the tech and spent virtually a 12 months combating to get her a refund.
After taking to social media to call and disgrace Higgins, Fleur was despatched dozens of messages from different individuals focused by the conman, many reporting that he's persevering with his deceit on Tinder.
Fleur informed the Every day Report: “This man will say every thing you wish to hear. He informed me he was in search of a relationship and informed me he had a foul previous expertise with an ex he known as a ‘psycho’.
“He had a very nice automotive, he dressed rather well and he at all times came to visit to my place with fancy takeaways and wine. He gave the impression to be very beneficiant.”
However issues turned bitter when Fleur, who had hoped to reward the Apple iPad to her mother and father for Christmas that 12 months, started to query why the products she had paid for by no means turned up.
Higgins turned “nasty”, accusing Fleur of harassing him and being bitter “simply because he didn’t fancy her” in dozens of messages.
He despatched Fleur excuse after excuse as he dodged her requests, largely blaming points with on-line banking. And when she informed him she would don't have any selection however to contact the police, he threatened her with “buddies” he claimed to have throughout the drive.
Fleur saved in touch with Higgins over the following 12 months in a “push and pull relationship” hoping to seek out proof of deception.
After she threatened to go to the cops in January 2022, he shortly transferred some money however continued to offer excuses over the remainder.
It was solely after an opportunity assembly with him in an Edinburgh restaurant in February this 12 months, the place she seized his telephone and refused to return it till he coughed up the money, that she lastly received the remainder of her a refund.
However the expertise has left her “beside herself” as she has struggled to return to phrases together with his behaviour.
Fleur stated: “I didn’t eat for about two weeks and misplaced a stone.He made me really feel so upset with myself for accusing him. I used to be beside myself.”
In messages seen by the Every day Report, dozens of ladies have contacted Fleur saying they have been additionally focused by Higgins since she outed him on social media in March.
An emotional Fleur added: “I wished to warn others due to the psychological affect this had on me. This synthetic me really feel like I used to be going mad.”
A earlier sufferer informed how shameless Higgins scammed her out of money for digital tools that by no means got here – and he was convicted for the rip-off in 2018.
She stated he lures individuals in together with his flash way of life and appeal earlier than he casually lets drop he can save them tons of of kilos by sourcing tech together with iPads and cell phones.
She informed the Every day Report how Higgins will goal anybody – female and male – he thinks is gullible sufficient to belief him. The lady, who we're not naming, was duped twice by the conman and revealed he even satisfied a mourner at a funeral to provide him cash for the non-existent telephones.
She stated it was the dying of a mutual college pal that reunited Higgins and different individuals from the village they grew up in, Balerno close to Edinburgh.
She stated he was energetic on social media they usually exchanged messages to catch up and to debate a fundraising evening in reminiscence of their pal.
She stated: “I attempted to warn individuals years in the past on promoting websites to not consider a phrase he says. Many individuals have misplaced cash due to him.
"I really feel strongly that folks ought to know this man is a fraud and can say something to get you to again off while you’re chasing him for the telephone or your a refund.”
The lady stated Higgins promised her a brand new cell phone costing £230 however when it got here to handing it over, he got here up with a collection of excuses.
She added: “I felt dangerous for harassing him. Then the justifications received extra elaborate, such because the courier firm have been coming that day, then when nothing appeared he would blame them. He even claimed to have refunded us utilizing a banking methodology that doesn’t exist. He had the cheek to get offended after I stated he was scamming us and didn’t appear too fussed after I stated police have been getting concerned.”
Higgins did finally refund her the cash, which led her to suppose he was telling the reality, so months later she gave him more money for an additional cellular and went via the identical course of.
She added: “He sounds believable and pleasant, so I can see why individuals can be taken in.”
A number of individuals, together with the lady, complained to police and Higgins pled responsible to fraud in January 2018. He was ordered to pay compensation to victims.
The Every day Report contacted Higgins for touch upon his present cell phone quantity however he didn't reply to calls or on-line messages.
He additionally deleted his Instagram account yesterday after we tried to contact him over social media. It's understood he lives in a property in Livingston.
A Police Scotland spokesperson stated: “We acquired a report on Friday, February 25, 2022, elevating concern concerning the actions of a person within the Edinburgh space. No criminality was established and appropriate recommendation was given.
“An additional report was acquired on April 4 and officers are finishing up additional inquiries.”
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