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A woman was scammed into thinking she was dating an actor from Stranger Things and ended up divorcing her husband and sending money to the scammer. The ordeal suffered by McKala, a single mother from Kentucky, was shared on the YouTube show Catfished, where it was revealed she believed she was in a secret online relationship with Australian actor Dacre Montgomery, who plays Billy Hargrove in the Netflix series. Over a year, McKala shared online messages with a person she sincerely believed was Montgomery, despite never having seen or even spoken to him on the phone. McKala, an amateur actress and filmmaker, wanted so desperately to be with “Montgomery” that she filed for divorce from her husband and began sending him gift cards worth thousands of dollars. When she began to question how genuine their relationship was, McKala sought the help of the show Catfished. She explained how she had separated from her “very toxic” husband and joined an online creatives group, where she believes she met and “hit it off” with a user who later claimed to be Montgomery. McKala said: “I’m suspicious from the get-go, until he starts doing things that make me believe he is who he is.” In real life, Montgomery has been in a relationship with the model Liv Pollock since 2017, but McKala claimed the person she was talking to claimed the couple were unhappy and having issues. “He was venting to me after a few months about his partner, saying she is very controlling of him. He doesn’t get to do the things he wants to do. She’s always there. She’s always got to supervise,” she explained, “I kind of empathise with that because my ex-husband was that way.” After exchanging messages online for months, “Montgomery” asked McKala to be his girlfriend, despite the real Montgomery still being with his girlfriend. Victim Divorces Husband For Stranger Things Romance Scammer! www.youtube.com McKala was told that the pair were actually separated, but just keeping up appearances. She was further convinced by their lack of visibility on each other’s social media. She said: “He wasn’t posting about her. She wasn’t posting about him. The only thing that I have seen in the last two years...was a thing where she was posting about their five-year anniversary.” McKala dismissed the Catfished team’s concerns that she hadn’t spoken to him on the phone, arguing that his girlfriend was controlling and always “glued at his hip”. He sent her poetry, told her to watch Stranger Things and gave her an ultimatum between her husband and him. “Before I knew it, it was turning into $100, $200 gift cards,” she explained and estimated that in total she sent him around $10,000 worth. The Catfished team broke the news to McKala that there was no evidence the actor and his girlfriend were broken up, he made $150,000 per episode of Stranger Things and did not need gift cards. Investigations showed the cheque he had sent her was false and taken from the internet and even the lasagna he allegedly made was actually a picture taken from a Martha Stewart recipe. McKala was left heartbroken by the discovery but admitted that she was vulnerable to being taken advantage of by a scammer in this way. She explained: “If you’re someone like me, you’re afraid of abandonment and you’re a real big people pleaser and you’re very co-dependent... These scammers, they just kind of come in and they leech off that.” Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

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In a nutshell: Fine food and relaxation in a wonderfully serene part of the world The neighbourhood Loch Fyne Hotel and Spa sits waterside on the banks of Scotland’s longest sea loch in the western region of Argyll and Bute. Situated a 65-mile drive from Glasgow, this picturesque route skirts Loch Lomond before taking the meandering A83 through the dramatic Arrochar Alps mountain range. Big skies, wide open space and the undeniably peaceful feeling of being beside this Atlantic Ocean inlet make this special part of the world the ideal sanctuary for those seeking some R&R. While the hotel benefits from feeling very much away from things, it’s actually only a 10-minute walk from the small town of Inverary with its gothic 18th-century castle and excellent walking trails (hike to Dun Na Cuaiche for a breathtaking view). Don’t leave without a pint of local ale in The George Hotel. Read more about UK travel: The best hotels in Loch Lomond The best Christmas breaks in the Lake District Best beach stays in the UK and Ireland: Hotels, cottages and more The vibe Think Highlands hunting lodge with a warm Scottish welcome. Built in 1856, this historic building was known as Admiralty House during World War II, when it became the only place outside London to be used as a wartime cabinet office, with visitors to the building including King George VI, Winston Churchill and General De Gaulle. It found a second lease of life in 1945 when it was transformed into a hotel. Traditional gold-framed portraits of Scottish nobility, tartan carpets and tweed furnished seats in colours inspired by the surrounding natural environment are very much the aesthetic, although a 2019 refurbishment to rooms and a brand new spa has introduced a more contemporary feel to proceedings, with marble tables and plush furnishings. Bed and bath There are 68 rooms, ranging from Petite Doubles to one of four suites in the hotel’s oldest wing; Glen Ord and Lagavulin both have feature windows with stellar views across the loch. Vintage touches include rotary telephones and vintage DAB radios, while welcome trays include Tunnock’s tea cakes, mineral water, coffee and a selection of teas courtesy of The Wee Tea Company. White subway-tiled bathrooms contain rainfall showers, while suites include freestanding bathtubs and his and hers sinks. Sustainable locally made toiletries are provided courtesy of The Highland Soap Company, while fluffy bathrobes and soft slippers come as standard for elevated lounging. My Shackleton bed was blissfully comfortable, with quality mitre linen keeping me cosy throughout the night. Food and drink Kick things off with a wee dram in the cosy Loch View bar. In addition to cocktails, spirits and wine, there’s a good selection of local beers and an impressive selection of whisky. Squishy leather sofas, marble tables and a fireplace make this the perfect place for a tipple with a view thanks to the floor-to-ceiling windows looking over the loch. Cladach Mòr Bistro is an AA rosette awarded restaurant with a focus on Scotland’s excellent produce and with Loch Fyne internationally renowned for the quality of its seafood, it’s the ideal place to dive in. Produce is sourced locally (but of course), with a dream selection of seafood and meat, meaning it’s not the best option for vegetarians and vegans. Langoustines were succulent and bouncy, scallops tender and lemon sole delicious. The venison was also an absolute treat and beautifully cooked. Staff were knowledgeable and warm. Public areas Significant cash has been splashed at the hotel’s new Shore Spa, and it’s largely been a successful investment. The indoor 15 metre pool includes aqua jets to obliterate any persistent muscular knots, while a steam room invites you to sweat it out. Step outside to switch it up in the barrel sauna, before rinsing in the drench shower and hopping into the hot tub with views across the loch. Therapists at the adjacent Inverary Spa, which offers a good selection of treatments, including facials, massages and scrubs, are experienced and professional, and use award-winning natural ishga skincare products made from Scottish seaweed. In addition to the bar and restaurant area, there’s also a games room, with board games to entertain all ages, and an under-stairs snug to escape to with a book. Nuts and bolts Room count: 68 Freebies: Tea, coffee and sweet treats in bedrooms. Wifi: Free wifi is available to all guests throughout the hotel. Extra charges: None. Disability access: The hotel has an access level and a lift to guest bedrooms across three floors. All public areas are accessible. The Cladach Mòr Bistro restaurant, Loch View bar, private rooms and spa are all on the ground floor. The original/older part of the building does not have lift access, however. Pet policy: Well-behaved dogs are welcome in all guestrooms, reception area, Loch View lounge bar and the hotel grounds. Dogs staying overnight are subject to a £20 charge per evening; no charge for service dogs. Bottom line Best thing: Friendly service and those loch views. Worst thing: The “hot” tub was not especially hot during my stay. Perfect for: A relaxing weekend break. Not right for: Stag and hen dos. Instagram from: The hot tub. Read more of our UK hotel reviews: The best spa hotels in the Scottish Highlands Best luxury hotels in Scotland Best hotels in Glasgow Read More The best New Year’s hotel breaks with entertainment This hotel has opened the Lake District’s first ‘spa garden’ The best all-inclusive UK breaks to celebrate the New Year How to do winter in London right The best new hotels that opened in the UK this autumn Why you should explore the Cotswolds by bike

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