Two people from Gosport arrested over romance fraud that saw person defrauded out of £100,000
Two people from Gosport were arrested after a probe into romance fraud that allegedly saw a person defrauded out of £100,000 over a seven-year period.
A 32-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of fraud by false representation and money laundering while a 34-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of money laundering. They have both been bailed with conditions until 3 May whilst enquiries continue.
The arrests were made as part of Operation Henhouse - a month-long, national, multi-agency period of intensification tackling fraud across the country. The activity ran throughout February 2026 and was co-ordinated by the National Crime Agency’s National Economic Crime Centre and City of London Police.
In Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, officers made 28 arrests, voluntarily interviewed five people and secured 61 cease and desist outcomes. Additionally, £309,500 was secured via Account Freezing Orders and £95,000 in cash detentions relating to cash/listed assets was seized under POCA.
Officers also arrested a 42-year-old man from Fareham on suspicion of fraud by false representation, money laundering and unauthorised computer access with intent to commit other offences after it was reported that £2,970 had been taken from a vulnerable woman’s bank account without her knowledge or permission, having befriended her. He has been bailed with conditions until 2 May whilst enquiries continue.
Four men were also arrested as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged fraudulent activity at a testing centre in Winchester.
If you think you are a victim of fraud, you can report it at any time via www.reportfraud.co.uk or call 0300 123 2040. This also helps us identify trends and investigative opportunities to ultimately help ensure others don’t fall victim.
You can also call police on 101 or by going online to Report a crime | Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary