Woman accused of romance scams that took about $3 million
By Stephanie Moore
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CRAVEN COUNTY, North Carolina (WYFF) — A woman is accused of romance scams totaling approximately $3 million over the last six years, according to the Craven County Sheriff’s Office.
Investigators said on Dec. 22, 2025, the Craven County Sheriff’s Office received a report involving a romance scam in excess of $100,000.00.
An investigation conducted by the Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Bureau identified Christina Jane Julian, 56, of Naples, Florida, as the perpetrator.
On January 21, 2026, with the assistance of the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, Christina Julian was extradited from Florida to North Carolina.
The investigation revealed that Christina Julian received approximately three million dollars over the last six years from multiple victims across the country by scamming them.Julian is charged with felony obtaining property by false pretense in excess of $100,000 and felony exploiting the elderly.
Julian is being held in the Craven County Confinement Facility under a $350,000.00 secured bond.The investigation is ongoing.
According to the Federal Trade Commission, millions of people use online dating apps or social networking sites to meet someone.
But instead of finding romance, many find a scammer trying to trick them into sending money. Romance scammers create fake profiles on dating sites and apps or contact you through popular social media sites like Instagram or Facebook.
The scammers strike up a relationship with you to build up trust, sometimes talking or chatting several times a day.
Then, they make up a story and ask for money.
People reported paying romance scammers more with gift cards than with any other payment method.
If you think it’s a scam, report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Notify the social networking site or app where you met the scammer, too.
Never send money or gifts to a sweetheart you haven’t met in person.
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