I very much doubt she'll see a penny, but it could be that at least she could get justice if at least she could shop him to the authorities (if he's been foolish enough to turn from conning to criminal in other matters).
As to the website she encountered this man on, I think she should do her best to warn everyone else who uses it as to what has happened - naming and shaming the individual concerned (it can't be libel as it is the truth), and warning all other British users about the absolute necessity of NEVER loaning or lending money to non-British nationals (or, indeed, British nationals come to that!).
Re 'proof' that she's lent the money - well, if she was sensible and did it via a cheque, then that will show the money has left her account, and when, and where the money was transferred and to whose account (though it might not, of course, be that of her so-called boyfriend....)
Of course, if she just gave him cash it's completely hopeless.
But even if she can prove she lent it to him, there is still no way she can force him to give it back as he doubtless doesn't have it any more - he's either spent it or handed it on to someone else. If she can prove it, then it might be possible to force him into personal bankruptcy to secure whatever she can back, though it's unlikely his possessions are worth much, and he can, of course, dispose of anything valuable beforehand if he gets wind of what she is doing before his assets are frozen by the bankruptcy laws.
This may sound harsh, but as citizens of one of the wealthiest countries in the world we HAVE to realise that EVERYONE from poorer countries simply assumes that (a) we are all rich (which in comparison to them we are!) and (b) we don't deserve to be rich so it's entirely 'fair' to part us from our money.
I could also add a (c) which is that, sadly, in poor countries bribery and corruption is very often the norm, as poverty so often erodes morality (hard to afford morals when you're on the breadline....)
In the end, I think this poor woman simply has to accept she's been stolen from, and move on - warning everyone she can in the meantime. I won't say 'a fool and her money are soon parted' because that is cruel and insulting - but I would say 'a naively generous lonely single woman and her money are soon parted'......
I would take a punt, sadly, that she will find, if she asks around on the website that she is not the only woman in her situation who has been similarly stolen from. The website operators have a duty (indeed, a Christian duty!) to put up very clear warnings NOT to get involved in any financial transactions with users of the site.
All the best to this poor woman - Julie.
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