Shortly after his release from prison, where he had served his seventh term for committing romance fraud, Raymond McDonald rejoined a dating app, seeking his next target.

Over the course of more than two decades, McDonald had accumulated 58 convictions, primarily for fraud and theft, by deceiving numerous individuals on a large scale, and swindling thousands of pounds from women for fake holidays and weddings.

This time, when McDonald went online, the BBC was prepared to confront him.

Under the assumption that he was meeting "Kaye" for a date, McDonald was instead approached by a BBC reporter and a camera crew.

McDonald had initially met Kaye online, introducing himself as "Rob," and claiming to be a deep-sea diver searching for a wife, a completely fabricated story.

McDonald has a history of dishonesty, having previously told numerous lies to deceive his victims.

Born in County Durham, McDonald was discharged from the army in August 2000 after being court-martialed.

Following his release from prison in November 2025, the BBC located him on a dating site near York by December 3.

A BBC colleague agreed to pose as Kaye, a mother of two in her fifties from Selby, to gather evidence against McDonald.

Disguised in a wig, Kaye posed for a photo with a glass of wine and her cat, stating that she was new to online dating.

On her first day on the dating app, McDonald showed interest in Kaye's profile and initiated a conversation.

Kaye shared that her daughter, Lauren, was going through a breakup, and McDonald offered to lend his van to help Lauren move.

He also invited Kaye to stay in his lodge and suggested she purchase gifts from a friend who could provide them at a lower price.

Despite never having met Lauren or Kaye, McDonald proposed going halves on a handbag for Lauren and even suggested a potential wedding in Las Vegas.

Posing as Kaye, BBC reporter Philippa Goymer arranged to meet McDonald for a supposed date.

As Goymer approached McDonald, she said, "It's Rob, isn't it?"

McDonald replied, "Yeh," before noticing the microphone and camera crew.

Goymer then asked, "It's not Rob though, is it? It's Ray, or are you using a different name today?"

When questioned about his reasons for joining the dating app, McDonald claimed he was only seeking friendship.

He stated, "I just want to meet someone nice."

Goymer responded, "No, you're not looking to meet someone, you're looking to steal from them."

McDonald apologized when Goymer pointed out that his actions had caused people to lose their homes.

Five days after the encounter, on December 15, North Yorkshire officers arrested McDonald at the request of Northumbria Police.

According to a spokesperson for HM Prison & Probation Service, McDonald was returned to prison for violating the terms of his license.

Northumbria Police previously stated that they believe hundreds of women may have been defrauded by McDonald, with many too embarrassed or ashamed to report the crimes.

After watching the BBC documentary "Are we dating the same fraudster?", two more victims came forward, one of whom described the experience as "being hit by a train" upon learning that McDonald was still active.

To protect their identities, the victims' full names will not be disclosed.

Caroline, from County Durham, divorced in 2002, and after some persuasion from a friend, decided to try online dating.

During their initial meeting, McDonald, who introduced himself as Mark Swift, claimed to have forgotten his wallet and asked Caroline to help him pay for petrol, which she found suspicious.

Despite this, they had a casual conversation over coffee, and Caroline thought he seemed pleasant.

Over the next few weeks, McDonald frequently messaged Caroline, but they rarely met in person.

It was during this time that the lies began.

McDonald claimed his daughter was seriously ill with cancer and asked Caroline for financial assistance, explaining that he had missed work shifts.

Caroline sent money to an account in the name of Raymond McDonald, which he claimed belonged to his financial advisor.

Just a few weeks after they met, McDonald proposed marriage to Caroline.

Having developed feelings for him, Caroline agreed to the proposal.

She gave him money for a deposit, purchased bridesmaid dresses for her daughters, and bought other wedding-related items.

The full extent of McDonald's deception became apparent when Caroline's mother contacted the supposed wedding venue.

Caroline reported McDonald to the police, but the debts she had accumulated by giving him money she thought were loans resulted in her losing her home.

Caroline stated, "I've lost everything now."

A woman's possessions had been reduced to just her car and dog, a stark reflection of her circumstances.

Susan, a resident of Wearside, was among those who watched the 2024 documentary, which shed light on a significant issue.

In 2010, Susan's life was marked by challenges after her partner left her to care for their two young children alone.

It was during this time that she reconnected with McDonald, a familiar face from her hometown of Peterlee, County Durham, who had reached out to her on social media.

McDonald presented himself as a man of means, offering to provide her with a TV and other items, allegedly acquired through his connections.

Over the course of their relationship, Susan estimates that she lost nearly £4,000 to McDonald's deceit, some of which was money given to her by others.

As Susan's suspicions grew, she turned to a mutual friend from her childhood, inquiring if he had any information about McDonald's activities.

The friend's response was alarming, stating that McDonald had a history of targeting vulnerable individuals, particularly older women.

The financial and emotional toll of Susan's experience was severe, leading her to seek refuge in a women's shelter with her children and contend with serious health issues.

The consequences of her relationship with McDonald were devastating, as she was forced to pawn her mother's rings and ultimately received diagnoses of an aneurysm and Bell's palsy.

Susan is among the many victims who believe that dating apps must take more stringent measures to prevent scammers like McDonald from operating.

She emphasizes that these platforms have a responsibility to do more to protect their users from individuals with malicious intentions.

McDonald has been known to use various dating sites, including Tinder, Hinge, and Plenty of Fish, but at the time in question, he was active on Badoo.

A spokesperson for Badoo stated that the company collaborates closely with law enforcement and has established channels for sharing information about individuals who are banned from using dating apps due to court orders or parole restrictions.

The spokesperson also noted that any user found to be engaging in fraudulent or manipulative behavior would be restricted or banned from the platform.

It is worth noting that Plenty of Fish, Hinge, and Tinder are all owned by Match Group, a prominent player in the online dating industry.

A Match Group spokesperson highlighted the company's investments in proactive tools, advanced detection systems, and user education to prevent scams.

The spokesperson also mentioned that Match Group works closely with law enforcement through a global portal, facilitating the sharing of information and supporting investigations.

Despite these efforts, McDonald's victims fear that he will continue to target innocent people once he is released from prison.

Susan believes that a fundamental shift in societal attitudes is necessary to prevent individuals like McDonald from perpetuating their crimes.

She emphasizes that the emotional and psychological harm caused by these scams can have a profound impact on ordinary people who are simply seeking love and connection.