British Grandmother Dies in Ghana Car Crash While Trying to Recover Money from Online Scammers

A British widow who lost nearly £1 million to online fraud has died following a road accident in Ghana, according to findings from an inquest.

Janet Fordham, 69, sustained fatal head injuries in a crash on February 14, 2023, months after traveling to the West African country in an attempt to recover money she had sent to scammers over several years.

The inquest heard that Fordham, a retired housekeeper from Devon, had been targeted by multiple fraud schemes beginning in 2017. Her ordeal started after she joined online dating platforms and entered a relationship with a man posing as a British Army officer stationed in Syria. He allegedly convinced her to send large sums of money, claiming he needed assistance transporting gold bars to the UK.

Family members said they were unaware of the extent of her financial losses at the time. Over a five-year period, Fordham is believed to have transferred between £800,000 and £1 million through bank transfers, cash withdrawals, and other means. She also borrowed approximately £140,000 from relatives, sold her home and land, and eventually moved into a caravan on her son’s property.

Despite repeated warnings from family, banks, and police, Fordham continued sending money. Financial institutions eventually restricted her transactions after identifying signs of fraud. Authorities also contacted her on multiple occasions between 2017 and 2022, but investigations were limited because she declined to cooperate.

In 2022, Fordham was contacted by a man named Kofi, who claimed he could help her recover the lost funds. The two developed a relationship, and she traveled to Ghana in October of that year to meet him.

On the day of the crash, the pair were reportedly en route from Accra to the Oti Region to seek family approval for marriage. Kofi was driving when the vehicle left the road. He later pleaded guilty to driving offences and received a suspended sentence and a fine.

Police confirmed there was no evidence of third-party involvement in Fordham’s death.

The coroner concluded that her death resulted from injuries sustained in the collision. The hearing also highlighted the prolonged financial and emotional impact of fraud on Fordham, describing her as a “sustained victim” over several years.

Her family said they made repeated efforts to intervene, including contacting authorities, financial institutions, and medical professionals. However, because she was deemed mentally capable of making her own decisions, they were unable to take control of her finances.