Aussie woman ignores mum's death and sells her home because she believes she's in a relationship with US actor James Spader - as her sister reveals how evil catfisher is destroying their family

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An Australian woman has spoken about the devastating impact of catfishing after her sister, who is convinced she is in a relationship with actor James Spader, missed their mother's death while trying to meet up with the Hollywood star.  

*Jenny told Daily Mail Australia her 55-year-old younger sister believes The Blacklist actor has been in love with her for more than two years. 

Jenny said she 'supposedly' met the actor in a café in Australia roughly nine years ago. 

She explained her sister has given the 'scammer' upwards of $100,000 after borrowing $9,500 from her, taking at least $70,000 from their parents' trust and even selling her house to send money to the 'actor'. 

'This is what she has told us, that they met him at a café - whether it was him or whether it wasn't we don't know,' Jenny said. 

A 55-year-old Australian woman is convinced she is in a relationship with Hollywood actor James Spader (pictured) who is known for his work in film and TV. The woman has sent the person claiming to be the actor more than $100,000 

'She had been taking funds from my parents' account, which comes down to elder abuse, until I had to step in because I had power of attorney and cut her off.

'She sold her house and she promised as soon as it was settled that she would pay the money back but nothing has been paid back.' 

James Spader is an American actor best known for playing eccentric characters in films such as Sex, Lies, and Videotape, Stargate, Crash and Secretary, and starring in TV series including Boston Legal, The Office and The Blacklist.

The 62-year-old has two sons with his first wife, Victoria Kneel, whom he divorced in 2004. Since then, he has been in a long-term relationship and shares a son with Alien co-star Leslie Stefanson. 

Spader is known to be notoriously private and does not use any form of social media.   

Jenny said her sister refuses to give any further details about her relationship after family and friends tried to convince her that it isn't real. 

The pair are believed to communicate on Snapchat to shield the man's privacy as the app doesn't record conversations. 

The relationship has taken a mental, physical and emotional toll on the family and reached breaking point when Jenny watched her mother die in June this year, while her sister was 'off chasing him around'.

'Poor mum, she was six months bedridden and she was being told he was going to come and visit and she waited and waited but he never turned up,' Jenny said while fighting back tears.  

'The worst part about it is that the weekend that our mum passed away, my sister took off to Sydney to evidently meet him, and that didn't eventuate. 

'To watch your mother pass away and watch her die while your own sister isn't there... our relationship will never be the same. Never.'

The pair are believed to communicate via Snapchat - as conversations are not recorded so that the man can preserve his privacy (STOCK woman opening Snapchat application)

Jenny said their mother's death should have been a 'wake-up call' for her sister but sadly it has pushed her further away. 

The catfisher has used multiple excuses every time they are supposed to meet, including catching Covid, needing an updated pacemaker, having no funds because of a divorce and being under investigation by the IRS. 

'The latest thing is he has had an accident and they had to cover it up,' Jenny said. 

'I said, 'but he's been promoting the 10th season of The Blacklist' and I was met with, 'well, they can CGI (computer generated imagery) him into anything and they're not putting out press releases'.' 

Jenny said her sister was packed and ready for a 'private jet' to pick her up on multiple occasions but it is always cancelled last minute. 

Her sister even flew to Canada in October 2021 to meet the man but never saw him in person after receiving yet another excuse. 

Jenny's sister even sent a picture of the actor's friend that he had sent her. After reverse searching the image, Jenny discovered that the person pictured had died six years ago.

The woman explained on multiple occasions her 55-year-old sister was packed and waiting for a 'private jet' to pick her up but each time it was cancelled, with her having to send $5,000 to help with a flight problem (STOCK IMAGE woman packing luggage)

Jenny said the catfisher took advantage of her sister during a time when she was vulnerable and has manipulated her to the point where she has alienated herself from family and friends. 

'The whole thing is really sad. She's well and truly jumped and is all in. There's no use talking to her... it just keeps on going on,' Jenny said.

'I don't know why she can't give us more information, why we can't talk to him.

'She said she can't answer questions. She just says it's not her story to tell. She can't divulge any information. For me, it's just bulls***. 

'She's been told to keep it a secret and she said she would. Everything that we have read online, bells start ringing. So many things don't add up, yet to my sister, everything does.'

The woman's sister explained her sibling missed the death of her mother because she was trying to meet up with James Spader (pictured with partner Leslie Stefanson)

Jenny, who has a degenerative autoimmune disease and was recently diagnosed with breast cancer, said she has to look after her elderly father who has dementia by herself because her sister has other priorities which are 'all about him'. 

When asked what she would say if she could give a message to the man, Jenny replied: 'It would be "What the f**k? How dare you put my mother through what you put her through, how dare you not allow our sister to talk to us and only talk to you".

'I couldn't give a s**t who it is, what he's got or where he comes from. 

'Somewhere in the recesses of my mind I hope it turns out to be true for my sister but it doesn't seem real. 

'It seems out of the realm of possibilities that a multi-millionaire wouldn't have money. James Spader wouldn't be asking a random Australian woman for money.'

The 62-year-old (right) has two sons with his first wife, Victoria Kneel before divorcing in 2004 and has since been in a relationship and shares a son with Alien co-star Leslie Stefanson (left)

Jenny said the whole family thinks she is 'nuts' and wants her sister to 'wake up' and see that the scammer has destroyed her life and her relationships. 

'Our older brother thinks she's nuts. I think she's totally nuts. My daughter thinks she's nuts and won't speak to her at all and has wiped her out as family,' Jenny said.  

'I don't think she's seen what she's done and how it's affected everybody... or she has and that's why she has pulled away from everybody and that makes it just as bad.'

Jenny said she hopes her story will help other people who have fallen victim to the same catfisher or other similar scams. 

'It's devastating all round, let alone the person going through it is so tied up in knots and still thinking that it is real, Jenny said. 

'If anything, I hope my sister's story helps somebody else realise what they're going through isn't real. It isn't a normal relationship, and it isn't how family is treated.'   

*Name changed for anonymity.