A woman has defended her decision to send $1.4 million to her online lover in Africa – who she has never met. Twice-divorced Sarah met Chris Olsen online 18 months ago. Though the mysterious man’s accent has changed over time, and he keeps asking for money to be wired to various different countries, Sarah insists she is ’95 per cent certain’ that he is telling her the truth. Despite his numerous attempts to come home so they can be together, she says, he keeps getting arrested on false charges.
She described the moment they met on the internet: ‘An attractive person came on there and said “wow you look like you wouldn’t hurt a fly”. I said “wow this guy’s really handsome, I can’t believe he’s talking to me!”‘
He told her he was called Chris Olsen, who hailed from Milan but moved to the U.S. 18 years ago. Currently, she says, he is based in Africa on business, and has been for more than a year and a half. When they met he said he was in South Africa. After a brief stint in Nigeria, he relocated to Benin, Sarah explained. Within seven weeks of meeting, he professed his love in a gushing email that referred to her as ‘Mrs Olsen’.