Gail Astin died after falling for romance scammer

Ancrum, Scottish Borders – July 2, 2025 – Gail Astin, a 46-year-old mother of two from the Scottish Borders village of Ancrum, has sadly passed away after suffering from a brain tumour. Gail became known for bravely speaking out about the dangers of online romance scams after she was tricked and blackmailed by a fraudster in 2019.

How She Was Scammed

In 2019, Gail was off work with stress and struggling emotionally. That’s when she was contacted online by a man claiming to be David Williams, a widowed marine engineer working in Nigeria. Over four months, they exchanged thousands of messages, and Gail began to trust him. She believed she had found someone who cared.

David told Gail he loved her. He then asked for money to help with food and bills. Over time, Gail sent him nearly £5,500 to bank accounts in the United States and Nigeria. He also convinced her to send nude photos.

Blackmail and Confession

Things changed quickly when Gail couldn’t send more money. The scammer turned aggressive and threatened to send her private photos to her husband Simon and even their teenage sons. That’s when Gail realised the truth and called the police.

She also told her husband everything. Simon was angry but decided to stand by her. He used money inherited from his late father to help pay off her debts.

Despite everything, the couple began to move forward together.

“I never considered leaving her,” Simon said at the time. “We worked through it.”

Her Illness and Passing

A year after the scam, Gail was diagnosed with a brain tumour. She passed away at age 46.

Simon, speaking after her death, described Gail as his “best friend and soulmate.”

“Everyone always commented on her smile and bubbly personality,” he said. “Family meant everything to her.”

The Man Behind the Photos

The man in the scammer’s profile pictures was actually Pedro Hipolito, a Portuguese businessman who has no connection to the scam. His identity was stolen by fraudsters, and he has spoken out about the harm caused.

“It’s terrible,” Pedro said. “These fake accounts are unstoppable. Vulnerable people just want love and are being used.”

No Justice for the Crime

Police did investigate the fraud but reportedly hit a dead end. The scammers were never caught.

A Warning to Others

Gail shared her story publicly to warn others. She wanted people to understand that anyone can fall victim to this type of emotional fraud.

“I hate myself for what I’ve done,” she once said. “But it can happen to anyone.”