Joseph Gibson jailed for Tinder fraud and fake cancer scam

Joseph Gibson, a 35-year-old from Ruthin, has been sentenced to three years and two months in prison following a fraud conviction at Bristol Crown Court. Between July 2020 and October 2021, Gibson targeted four victims—three women and one man—whom he met via the dating application Tinder.

Gibson utilized an elaborate series of falsehoods to defraud his victims of nearly £80,000. He falsely claimed to be a multimillionaire entrepreneur, an air ambulance pilot, a doctor, and a veteran of the Royal Navy’s Special Boat Service. To maintain the illusion of wealth, he presented fake trading portfolios and photos of luxury assets such as yachts and high-end cars.

To manipulate his victims and avoid scrutiny, Gibson also claimed to be suffering from terminal cancer. He sent photos of himself in hospital settings to simulate receiving chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Victims reported that he used his purported illness to guilt-trip them into providing more money or to explain why promised investment returns had not materialized.