News
Convicted Con Artist Returns to Dating Platform Just Days After Leaving Jail
A journalist posing undercover has encountered a convicted serial fraudster on a dating platform, just days following the individual’s release from prison.
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.
News
NBA Imposes Fine on Utah Jazz for Violating League Integrity
The National Basketball Association has imposed a fine of $500,000, equivalent to £367,000, on the Utah Jazz for resting healthy players, a move deemed to have undermined the league’s integrity.
The Utah Jazz have secured 18 victories out of 56 games played so far this season.
The NBA has imposed a fine of $500,000 (£367,000) on the Utah Jazz for their decision to bench healthy players, which the league believes has compromised the integrity of the competition.
In recent games against the Orlando Magic and Miami Heat, Utah Jazz head coach Will Hardy made the decision to remove key players Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr from the lineup before the fourth quarter.
This strategy, commonly referred to as "tanking," involves coaches deliberately fielding a weaker team to improve their chances of securing a higher draft pick.
The NBA's draft system is designed to give teams with the worst records the best opportunity to select top prospects.
The Indiana Pacers have also been fined $100,000 (£73,000) for violating the league's player participation policy during their loss to the Jazz on February 4.
According to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, "behaviour that prioritises draft position over winning undermines the competitive foundation of the NBA, and we will take appropriate action in response to any further incidents that compromise the integrity of our games."
The NBA is currently working with its competition committee and board of governors to develop additional measures aimed at preventing this type of behaviour.
With the Jazz ranked 13th in the Western Conference and the Pacers 14th in the Eastern Conference, a playoff push seems unlikely for both teams, and attention is already turning to next season's roster construction.
In their recent games, the Jazz held a nine-point lead in the fourth quarter against Orlando on February 8 but ultimately lost 120-117, while they managed to defeat Miami 115-111 two days later.
Utah owner Ryan Smith expressed his disagreement with the fine on social media, stating "Agree to disagree. We won the game in Miami and still got fined, which doesn't make sense."
Head coach Will Hardy has defended his decision to bench Markkanen, citing a minutes restriction, and the team has also announced that Jackson Jr will undergo season-ending knee surgery after the All-Star games.
Hardy explained his decision, saying "I benched Lauri because he was under a minutes restriction, and I'm trying to keep him healthy, as per our medical team's instructions."
This is not the first time the Jazz have been fined for resting players; they were also fined $100,000 (£73,000) last season for resting Markkanen in multiple games.
The Pacers' fine was issued after a league investigation found that Pascal Siakam and two other players who did not participate in the game could have played, even if it was with limited minutes.
The player participation policy was introduced by the NBA in 2023 as a measure to discourage teams from deliberately losing games to improve their draft lottery chances.
Business
Artist Alleges AirAsia Used His Work Without Permission
A street artist from Penang has reported that one of his artworks has been replicated and featured on the design of an airplane.
A lawsuit has been filed by a Malaysian-based artist against AirAsia and its parent company, Capital A Berhad, alleging unauthorized use of the artist's designs on one of the airline's planes.
According to the lawsuit, Ernest Zacharevic, a Lithuanian-born artist residing in Penang, claims that his 2012 street mural, Kids on Bicycle, was reproduced and displayed on an AirAsia aircraft in late 2024 without his permission.
Zacharevic states that the use of his design was unauthorized, and no licensing agreement or consent was obtained, adding that the livery was removed after he publicly expressed concerns about the matter.
The BBC has reached out to AirAsia for a statement regarding the allegations.
In an interview with the BBC on Thursday, Zacharevic recalled that he first became aware of the alleged copyright infringement in October 2024, when he discovered that an AirAsia plane was featuring a livery resembling his artwork.
With over a decade of experience in Malaysia, Zacharevic is known for his roadside murals in Penang, which have become a staple of the local art scene.
One of Zacharevic's notable works is the 2012 street mural Kids on Bicycle, created for a local festival, which features two children on a bicycle integrated into the mural, located in George Town's heritage district.
The mural has become a popular tourist attraction, with many visitors taking photos in front of the iconic artwork.
Zacharevic alleges that his work was reproduced on an AirAsia plane without his knowledge or consent, and he personally witnessed the plane in operation at an airport.
Recalling the incident, Zacharevic expressed his discomfort with the situation, which occurred in 2024.
He took to social media to address the issue, posting a photo of the plane and tagging the airline, suggesting that they needed to discuss the use of his artwork.
Since then, Zacharevic has engaged in discussions with the company, but they have been unable to come to a mutually agreeable resolution.
This is not the first instance of Zacharevic's work being used in connection with AirAsia, as he claims the airline has also used his artwork on a delivery bag for its food services arm.
Court documents reveal that Zacharevic had previously discussed a potential collaboration with AirAsia in 2017, where he would create art for the airline's jets and a mural in one of their offices.
According to the documents, Zacharevic had informed the airline of his work and business rates during these discussions.
The lawsuit asserts that despite being aware of Zacharevic's work and rates, the airline proceeded to reproduce and publicly display one of his notable works, thereby infringing on his copyright and moral rights.
As the largest low-cost carrier in Asia, AirAsia operates over 200 jets to more than 100 destinations, and has recently announced plans to resume flights from Kuala Lumpur to London via Bahrain.
Zacharevic has stated that he will leave it to the court to determine any potential compensation he may be entitled to.
The artist emphasized that he does not consider the use of his artwork to be a mere reference to cultural or geographical associations, but rather a distinct artistic creation.
Zacharevic stressed that his artwork is the result of years of professional training, skill, and labor, and should be recognized as such.
News
Northern Ireland boss O’Neill poised for Blackburn Rovers move
Michael O’Neill, the manager of Northern Ireland, is poised to take on a position with Blackburn Rovers, a Championship club, in a dual capacity that will last until the end of the current season.
Michael O'Neill has begun his second stint as the manager of the Northern Ireland national team.
It has been announced that Northern Ireland's manager, Michael O'Neill, is expected to take on a dual role with Championship club Blackburn Rovers until the end of the season.
In March, Northern Ireland will face Italy in a World Cup play-off semi-final, followed by a potential match against either Wales or Bosnia-Herzegovina, depending on the outcome of the Italy game.
O'Neill will remain involved with the Northern Ireland team for these matches and the World Cup finals, if they qualify.
After the current season, O'Neill is expected to take on the manager's role at Blackburn Rovers on a full-time basis.
Damien Johnson, a former Northern Ireland midfielder, will assist O'Neill at Blackburn Rovers for the remainder of the season.
If an agreement with the Irish FA is reached promptly, O'Neill could be in charge of Blackburn Rovers for their upcoming Championship match against Queen's Park Rangers on Saturday.
Currently, Blackburn Rovers are ranked 22nd in the table, narrowly outside the safety zone due to their goal difference.
The team has been without a permanent manager since Valerien Ismael's departure on February 2, with Damien Johnson serving as interim manager.
In 2020, O'Neill had a similar arrangement with Stoke City, where he balanced his duties with both the club and the national team.
However, the Covid-19 pandemic led to a delay in the Euro 2020 play-offs, and O'Neill left his position before those matches took place.
O'Neill returned to manage the national team in 2022, signing a contract that will keep him in the role until after the Euro 2028 campaign.
Northern Ireland is aiming to qualify for its first World Cup in 40 years and its first major tournament since O'Neill led the team to the Euro 2016 finals during his initial tenure.
O'Neill attended the Nations League draw on Thursday, where Northern Ireland was paired with Hungary, Ukraine, and Georgia, but he did not interact with the media in Brussels.
England's Nations League draw has resulted in matches against Spain and Croatia.
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