Sampson made five payments totaling £450,000 to the scheme, selling a property, draining his savings, and taking out a loan from his partner's parents. The alleged fraudsters informed him they were tendering for contracts with NATO, the UN, and the UK Government, and he was entertained for an evening at London's Special Forces Club and offered a position involving military mental health. He was guaranteed returns of £11,000 a month, but after initially receiving them, the payments dried up and the company's directors began to ghost him.
The identities of the alleged fraudsters and the specific companies involved remain unclear. Sampson lost both his home and his relationship, and was forced to sleep in his car. Sampson has been diagnosed with severe post-concussion syndrome following his rugby career, a condition which impacts his memory and decision-making.
He has since sought medical assistance for persistent headaches and received the diagnosis in 2023. According to Daily Express - Sport, Sampson described how his brain gets overwhelmed and can't process situations, adding that it took him years to even realise he'd been a victim of a fraud, suspecting it was a vulnerability that the people who took his money could see in him immediately. Sampson is now working 53 hours a week in a warehouse in a bid to rebuild his life.
He is among a group of former rugby players pursuing legal action against World Rugby, the Rugby Football Union, and the Welsh Rugby Union over brain injuries sustained during their careers. The governing bodies deny liability. Sampson reported the fraud to Barclays in 2025, but his claim was rejected as it fell outside the six-year time limit.
The National Fraud helpline subsequently became involved, requesting Barclays and the Financial Ombudsman to review the case. Sampson was once married to TV presenter Kirsty Gallacher. The fraud scheme has left Sampson in a dire financial situation, with his efforts to recover through legal channels and his warehouse job ongoing.