‘This is what survivors look like’: the romance fraud victims who want to help others

Cecilie Fjellhøy (left) and Anna Rowe. They men they fell for faked everything, causing them long-term distress. Photograph: Linda Nylind/The Guardian

Victims of romance fraud conned out of thousands and left emotional wrecks are having their distress compounded by police telling them no crime has been committed and it is just “boyfriend trouble”.

Now two women who have been victims have teamed up to change perceptions of the crime in the hope of it being treated more seriously.