The true story of Fireman Scam

The Playing With Fire series tells the remarkable and devastating true story of Greg Wilson, a discharged army veteran who lived for years under the false identity of “James Scott,” a supposed firefighter. Using that persona, he manipulated and controlled twin sisters Coleen Greenwood and Karen Crear, leaving emotional damage and significant financial loss in his wake. 

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In 2014, Coleen was a single mother working in property management with her sister Karen when she met “James Scott” on a dating site. He said he was a fireman with County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service, a divorced father and a man dedicated to public service. He wore uniforms, shared falsified rotas and acted the part so convincingly that Coleen believed she had finally found a trustworthy partner. 

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Over the next four years he wove himself into Coleen’s life. He proposed and encouraged her to plan a wedding on several occasions, yet he never booked a venue or made any lawful arrangements. When the chosen dates arrived, there was nothing to attend because there had never been a wedding at all. He also claimed to have had a vasectomy and produced paperwork to “prove” it, which was later found to be falsified. 

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Karen, who initially accepted him into the family, became a victim in her own right. Under the guise of being helpful and enterprising, Greg persuaded her to invest in business ventures and to pay him for property renovations that he never carried out. The broken promises and unfinished work resulted in substantial financial loss for Karen, compounding the emotional strain his behaviour was already causing both sisters. 

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The pretence finally collapsed because of the vigilance of Karen and her now husband, Ryan. After repeated failures to deliver the agreed renovations, Ryan checked the supposed wedding venue and learned there was no booking in either name, James Scott or Coleen Greenwood. He also contacted County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service and was told there was no record of anyone called James Scott or Greg Wilson ever working there. Armed with those findings, Karen and Ryan reported Wilson to the police. 

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The investigation, led by Detective Constable Chris Bentham of Durham Constabulary, uncovered the full pattern of deceit: forged documents, fabricated employment claims, sham business opportunities, and years of calculated lies that inflicted lasting psychological harm on Coleen and serious financial harm on Karen. 

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In 2020, Wilson appeared before Durham Crown Court. At the eleventh hour he pled guilty to all charges against him and was sentenced to six years in prison. At sentencing Judge James Adkin described Greg Wilson’s actions as a cruel and calculated campaign of deception. 

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For Karen and Coleen the sentence delivered accountability, not closure. They chose to speak out so others could recognise the warning signs of romance fraud, coercive control and emotional abuse. Together they wrote Playing With Fire and its sequel Healing From The Burns, with a third book now in development. The books reclaim their story and offer practical insight into how such manipulation operates, how it isolates victims and how families can respond when doubts arise. 

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Their advocacy does not end on the page. From the proceeds of every book sold, Karen and Coleen donate to Women’s Aid, helping other victims access the specialist support they need. They also donate fees from public speaking events to Women’s Aid, using their platform to raise both awareness and funds so that more survivors can find safety, advice and a route to recovery. 

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Ultimately, the Playing With Fire series is more than a record of betrayal. It is a story of survival and service to others, showing that even the deepest burns can heal when the truth is brought into the light and used to protect those who come next.