Woman from Bournemouth falls in love and spends £20k on wedding and fees to be with Lamin, 44, from The Gambia only to be left as soon as he gets into the UK
JULIE DAG, 55, from Bournemouth, met Lamin Sidibeh, 41, in Gambia, West Africa, in 2007.
Against her better judgment, Julie wed her younger lover in what she later found out was a sham marriage.
It caused her heartbreak – and cost Julie £20,000.
She says: “I’ve never thought of myself as gullible. Years of holiday repping made me fully aware of all the scams out there.
“Lamin he was very persuasive, even when I returned home to England.
“He was constantly messaging and calling, so I started to believe his feeling were true.”
After marrying in 2008, their honeymoon was spent filling in visa applications. But having gained indefinite leave to stay in the UK, Lamin then left her.
Julie has some advice for anyone unsure about the motives of an overseas lover.
She says: “Suggest moving over there and see what he says.
“If they are interested, it shouldn’t matter where you live, as long as you’re together.
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“It may be difficult to hear but read other people’s stories and look at how often this is happening.
Older women are attractive to these men as they have more security, more money, properties and divorce settlements.
“Finally, wait a long time. If you think he is The One, don’t rush into anything.
“Go over there and spend an extended amount of time together in his country.”