A TikToker who shares scam prevention tips online said she has fallen victim to identity theft, with someone attempting to take three loans out in her name, despite her ‘extreme vigilance’.
Julie-Anne Kearns, 47, an NHS healthcare worker from Dorset, UK, was first targeted in November 2022 by a dating scam when a user posing as a military surgeon and would-be romantic partner tried to manipulate her into sending money.
The single mum of four and grandmother of one realised it was a scam and began using TikTok to raise awareness about scams under the handle “staysafewithmjules”.
But, despite her diligence, she said she fell victim to identity theft as fraudsters potentially cloned her passport and driving licence to steal her personal details.
In December 2024, she said she discovered someone had attempted to take out loans in her name via three different companies.
Fortunately, she has gotten her credit file locked to prevent lenders processing new credit applications filed in her name – but, she remains ‘terrified’ of further fraud attempts.
She said she still does not know how they were able to steal her identity as she does not share any personal information online.
Julie-Anne told PA Real Life: “I think I’m a target because they know I’m bringing scammers down by exposing them. I can’t believe it happened to me out of all people and I still don’t know how.”
On November 24, 2022, Julie-Anne received a Facebook message from a man claiming to be called Andrew, an orthopaedic surgeon working in Afghanistan with the military. He “love bombed” her and told her that his wife had died in a car accident. He then asked to continue their conversation via email and Google Chat, which they did for two weeks before he attempted the scam.
Andrew messaged Julie-Anne, claiming he would lose his Internet access within 24 hours and would be unable to talk to her anymore, unless she could provide an iTunes gift card of an undisclosed amount to cover the Internet fee.
Growing suspicious, Julie-Anne asked for a photo of him and conducted a Google image search. She discovered he was using a picture of a licensed orthopaedic surgeon with a different name so she blocked and reported him.
Julie found this very difficult especially as she had been having an extremely tough time with her health – she was diagnosed with BRCA1 in December 2017, had her ovaries removed in February 2019, and had a double mastectomy with DIEP flap reconstruction in August 2021.
On top of this, she had just come out of a six year relationship in June 2022.
“It was kind of heart-wrenching because you’re gaining a friendship and relationship with this person online, because you’re talking to them every day,” she explained.
A few weeks later she shared her experience in a TikTok video which gained over 28,000 views, and the comments section was flooded with other women recounting similar experiences. Encouraged by the response, she dedicated her TikTok page to raising awareness about scams and sharing others’ experiences.
However, she now finds herself inundated with scam messages, receiving between 100 and 200 per week on TikTok.
On January 5 2024, Julie-Anne received a letter from CredAbility, a credit report provider, stating that they believed an account had been opened in her name fraudulently on December 27 2023. Julie-Anne confirmed it was fraudulent and the account was suspended.
She also contacted the police and was referred to Action Fraud, the UK’s national reporting centre for fraud and cyber crime, who are currently investigating the case.
She said they advised her to report her passport and driving licence as stolen, as they had likely been cloned.
In December 2024 she discovered that someone had tried to take out a loan in her name through Lendable, Moneybarn No 1 and Billing Finance Limited.
Fortunately, she said she managed to get her “credit file locked” through Experian which means her credit report is now restricted.
According to Experian, applying a credit lock to your credit report will effectively prevent lenders from processing new credit applications filed in your name.
Julie-Anne remains “terrified” of further fraud attempts.
She still “cannot believe” she has had her identity stolen, especially because of branding herself as a scam awareness expert.
To others facing similar situations, she said: “Speak out – I know people don’t like going to the authorities because they’re afraid they’re going to be victim-blamed.
“But this is what gives scammers more power, and we need to stop it.”
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