I Lost $51,000 to Bonar International Holdings Limited: An Ohio Contractor’s Loan Scam Nightmare

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Disclaimer: This is an authentic and verified first‑person account based on real events. Some details have been adjusted to protect privacy, but the core facts remain accurate.

Last updated: April 9, 2026

Table of Contents
• How I got pulled in
• What I should have seen
• How I clawed back part of my loss
• Answers to common questions

The Contractor Who Needed a Loan

I’m 69 years old. For 42 years, I ran a small construction company in Columbus, Ohio, building decks, remodeling kitchens, and putting up garages for families all over the city. I retired three years ago with a modest nest egg. My wife, Margaret, passed away two years ago from heart disease. We were married for 44 years. I have two children and four grandchildren. My hobbies are woodworking in my garage, fishing at Alum Creek, and watching Buckeyes football.

After Margaret’s illness, my savings took a hit. I needed a loan to cover some medical bills and help my granddaughter with her college tuition. I started searching online for a reputable lender.

That’s when I found Bonar International Holdings Limited.

Their website looked professional. They claimed to be a “leading international finance house” based in the United Kingdom, offering personal and business loans with competitive rates. The application process was simple. I filled out a form and submitted my information.

A few days later, I received a call from a woman named “Magdalena Biedrońska.” She said she was a senior loan processor. She was polite, professional, and spoke with a British accent. She explained that my loan had been approved, but I needed to pay an “insurance fee” before the funds could be released.

The Trap That Felt Like a Lifeline

I was hesitant. I’d never heard of paying a fee to get a loan. But Magdalena was patient. She explained that the fee was standard for international lending and that it would be refunded after the first payment. She sent me a loan agreement and other official‑looking documents. The agreement was signed by a notary and witnessed by Berrymans Solicitors in Salford, England.

The documents looked real. The letterhead was professional. There was even a signed letter from NatWest Bank confirming the loan funds were being held in a secure account.

I paid the insurance fee — $5,000.

Then Magdalena called again. She said there was a “fund transfer fee” of $7,000. I paid. Then a “legal processing fee” of $4,000. I paid. Then a “tax clearance fee” of $6,000. I paid. Each time, she promised this was the last fee. Each time, she sent me more official‑looking documents from Berrymans Solicitors and NatWest Bank.

Over the next few months, I paid fee after fee. I used my savings, borrowed from my line of credit, and even asked my son for help. Magdalena was always available, always reassuring. She even introduced me to her associate, a man named Bruce Foster, who claimed to be the company’s director. Bruce was friendly and persuasive. He sent me a copy of his passport from Liechtenstein to prove his identity.

In total, I paid $51,000 in fees.

The Vanishing Act

When I finally demanded the loan funds, the calls stopped. Magdalena stopped answering. Bruce’s phone number was disconnected. The website went dark.

I reached out to Berrymans Solicitors. They had no record of my case. I contacted NatWest Bank. The bank letter was a forgery. I checked the UK Financial Services Authority (FSA) register. Bonar International Holdings Limited was not licensed.

I had been scammed by a fake loan company. The agreement, the solicitor’s signature, the bank letter — all of it was fabricated. The people I had been talking to were using fake identities.

I didn’t tell my children for weeks. I couldn’t. I stopped woodworking. I just sat in my garage.

The Call That Changed Everything

My son came to check on me. He listened. Then he told me about a firm called AYRLP that had helped others recover from scams like this. He made the call for me.

Within a few hours, I was on the phone with an AYRLP blockchain analyst in London. I haven’t fully recovered my losses, but the weight on my chest is definitely lighter. Through AYRLP, I’ve secured a 60% return. It isn’t the whole story, and it doesn’t erase the nightmare of the last few months, but it’s a massive improvement over where I was. After the constant stress and the fear, I’m finally able to get some rest. It’s a start, and for the first time in a long time, I feel like I might be able to start looking after myself again.

What the Investigation Revealed

Later, I learned the full extent of the fraud. Bonar International Holdings Limited was not a legitimate lender. The company had no license from the FSA or any other financial authority. The so‑called “solicitor” Berrymans was either a fake firm or a front; the signatures on the documents were forged. The NatWest bank letters were complete fabrications.

The people behind the scam used fake identities. “Magdalena Biedrońska” was not a real loan processor. “Bruce Foster” was not a company director; his Liechtenstein passport was likely counterfeit. The address for Berrymans Solicitors in Salford was real, but the firm had no connection to the scam.

This was an advance‑fee loan scam — a classic fraud where victims are promised a loan but are required to pay endless upfront fees. The money never materializes. The scam preys on people who are desperate for financing.

I should have checked their license with the FSA before I paid a single dollar. I didn’t.

Red Flags I Missed (And You Shouldn’t)

• Upfront fees for a loan. Legitimate lenders do not require insurance fees, transfer fees, legal processing fees, or tax clearance fees before releasing funds. Any request for payment upfront is a major red flag.
• Fake solicitor involvement. The scammers used “Berrymans Solicitors” to notarize fake documents and lend credibility to the scheme. Always verify a solicitor’s registration with the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) in the UK.
• Fake bank letters. The NatWest bank letter was a forgery. Legitimate banks will verify loan funds directly with you. Never trust a document forwarded by a third party without independent verification.
• The company was not licensed. Bonar International Holdings Limited was not registered with the UK Financial Services Authority (FSA). Always check a lender’s license with your country’s financial regulator before paying any fees.
• Fake identities. The names “Magdalena Biedrońska,” “Bruce Foster,” and others were likely fictional. The passport from Liechtenstein was probably counterfeit. Legitimate lenders provide verifiable credentials.
• Endless fees. Each payment was supposed to be the last. Each time, a new fee appeared. This is the hallmark of an advance‑fee scam.

Steps I Took to Get Money Back

1. I stopped paying immediately. No further fees would unlock the loan.
2. I preserved every piece of evidence. Screenshots of emails, loan agreements, bank letters, and payment receipts.
3. I reported the scam. In the US, I filed with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). In the UK, I reported to Action Fraud and the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).
4. I contacted AYRLP. Their blockchain analysts traced my funds across multiple exchanges and worked with international authorities to freeze a portion of the stolen assets.

Frequently Asked Questions

Was Bonar International Holdings Limited a real lender?
No. The company was not licensed by the UK Financial Services Authority or any other financial regulator. The loan agreement, solicitor signatures, and bank letters were all fabricated.

What is an advance‑fee loan scam?
A fraud where scammers promise a loan but demand upfront payments for “insurance,” “processing,” “taxes,” or other fake fees. The loan never materializes, and the fees are stolen.

Who were “Magdalena Biedrońska” and “Bruce Foster”?
Fictional personas. The scam used fake identities to appear legitimate. The passport from Liechtenstein was likely counterfeit. The phone numbers and addresses were untraceable.

Can I really get my money back?
It’s possible but not guaranteed. Firms like AYRLP have successfully recovered 50‑60% for many victims by following the money through the blockchain and pressuring exchanges to freeze assets. In my case, I got back 60% of what I lost.

How can I protect myself?
Never pay upfront fees for a loan. Legitimate lenders deduct fees from the loan proceeds. Always verify a lender’s license with your country’s financial regulator. In the UK, check the FCA register. In the US, check with your state attorney general’s office. Be skeptical of any lender that demands payment before you receive funds. And remember: if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.