A cancer sufferer has contacted the police after a predator used his name and photos to lure in unsuspecting victims on fake social media accounts and dating sites.

Jack Goldring, 24, wants to raise awareness of 'catfishing', the online phenomenon where someone adopts a fake online persona to trick people into relationships.

The tree surgeon believes the culprit has been using his identity on various dating websites - including Tinder, PlentyOfFish and Grindr - for more than a year.

The interloper has now set up a Facebook account using Jack’s name and photos.

Mr Goldring, who was only given the all-clear from Hodgkin lymphoma in April, discovered he was the victim of the scam when a woman who was talking to the fraudster online happened to show a friend the profile with his face on it.

Jack, from East Mersea, Essex, said: "It's made me so angry. It's frustrating that it's out of my control.

"I'm so concerned that someone can do that and get away with it. He talks to girls on the phone and they're saying they're falling in love with him.

"He could be doing or saying anything. It's scary."

He added: “This person was using my photos on gay websites, Tinder and PlentyOfFish.

“He was using the name Brodie at first, and was using my photo. It has always been other people who got in contact with me.

“A lady who moved to Colchester joined the gym and was speaking to a friend about a guy she was talking to, called Brodie.

"She had been speaking to this guy for hours on the phone at night. She showed her a photo and the girl told her it was actually me.

“She got in touch with me and we called the police.”

Jack said 'catfishing' was becoming more common and wants others to be aware of the dangers.

He has now contacted the police a number of times, reporting the masquerading behaviour as harassment.

As no crimes have been committed, it has been hard for officers to take action.

However the most recent incident prompted Jack to call the police again.

He said: “Another girl came forward on Sunday, she said she had been speaking to this guy on the phone.

“It’s really worrying, he’s started using my name now. It’s stealing my identity and it’s so frustrating.

“I don’t know what he is saying to these people, it must be a very sad and lonely person.

"He will never be able to actually meet these people as it’s not him.”

The culprit made a fake Facebook profile, saying he was from Ipswich and worked in Marks and Spencer.

An Essex Police spokesman confirmed they were looking into the incident.

They said: “We received a report detailing the harassment of a man in his 20s. We carried out a thorough investigation and, due to a lack of evidence the case was filed.

“This incident will be reviewed if further information becomes available.”