Topic : 11/23 Love Scams?

Sure we watch Investigative Reports and other news shows, but then you never think something will happen to you either! And they don't come on as themselves, they represent themselves as someone else (picture) and mine said he was in NYC not Nigeria for months before he told the truth on that then tried for the money. He didn't get a dime from me and in the end just had wasted my time.

There should be somewhere to report these guys to besides the dating site. Especially when they have defrauded women. Yes the women should think and be real about any relationship online, but someone is always getting defrauded by phone scams and look how many years those have been around.

I saw the show yesterday and I felt so bad for the first lady. She was sooo in love and taken in by this guy. Now has a huge phone bill and other costs to re-cover let alone an obvious broken heart! Just so sad. She put her faith in someone and he not only burned her but made a public fool out of her. I hope Dr. Phil at least covers her phone bill after that humiliation!

I just did some research on Yahoo Personals and I believe I may have located 3 more that are possible Scam artists.  They are 53 George, Baltimore, MD, Nice Guy 53 Mike, Parkville, MD and Randy 55, Cockeysville/Hunt Valley, MD.  Some clues that you may want to look for is that they are widowed, grammar is horrible and use lower case for i.  The third thing is that they have some high school and fourth they are in mostly banking/financials and make $75K+.

I wish that the dating sites would allow both woman and men to find these scam artists and give us a small reward.  The scam artists are totally out-of-hand and we have to stick together to get them off of the dating sites.  Let's work together to create a safe dating site for all.

Surely we need to be aware of scammers, but why single out Nigeria? Yes they are a developing country and yes they have some fraudulent activity, just as we do in America.  I would have respected the show more if they found a mix of people who were taken by love scams...maybe some from different countries and some from America because we can't possibly think its only Nigeria!  It's everywhere!  

I am engaged to an honest Nigerian man who lives his life with integrity.  He isn't rich by any means, but he does not ask me for money.  We met in person and discussed our goals in marriage and talked at length about our compatibility.  You must use common sense and gut feeling when dealing with people online.  My fiance and I have been through many trials but we are strong in our faith in God to see us through.  I think there is nothing wrong with having compassion and helping someone, but when all they want from you is money, or it is a major focus of conversation, then of course something is wrong - whether it is your next door neighbor or  a Nigerian.  Be smart, use your gut feeling, ask intelligent questions about his / her background, beliefs, customs, and be discerning and pray about it too!  I mean after all, intelligence is no indicator of ethics.  If it were, the Enron and Tyco scandels would not have happened.  Most importantly, pray for discernment.  There are many wonderful people that come from Nigeria.  If you don't believe me, I'll introduce you to some! 

I was working when this show aired but was told about it from a friend.  After reading about the show and reading the message boards.  I had to post this.

On Monday Sept. 17 I got an instant message about 10pm.  I did not know the person and really did not want to talk rigt then but he kept on IMing me so finally I sat down and talked to him.  He told me his name was Carl Jones and he was a contractor from NY working on a church in Africa.   was widowed (his wife had died last year) and that he had a 16 year old son.  Well that set off alarm bells.  so I asked him where in Africa,  He changed the subject.  After a bit I told him that I had to go to sleep so I could get up and go to work.  the next day he IMed me again.  This time we talked for quite a while and then he started telling me that he was falling in love with me.  I asked him how he could fall in love with some words on a screen and a picture.  Well needless to say, I figured this was a scam.  the picture he sent me was just too good to be true.

Anyway, I talked to the "son" and the first thing he typed was Hello Mom.   yeah right.  We talked for a week and then he wanted to know about my finances.  How much was my paycheck, wasn't my SSI enough to pay my bills, What kind of car did I drive, was it paid for , how much did I still owe on it.  When I asked why he wanted to know that he said he would send me the money to pay off my car.  I told him that I did not want him to do that.  that I could manage.  and also told him that I did not get SSI that I was not that old.  So on the following monday, I contacted the Cyber Crimes Unit here and told them what was going on.  They wanted the email that he had sent me (only one,using the reply on one that I had sent him.)  They told me to send him an email and tell him that I had contacted the authorities and to not contact me again.  5 minutes after I sent him the email, he instant messaged again.  I ask if he had read the email and he did at that time.  He was very indignant wanting to know why I was breaking his heart this way.  I play it out and we made up and continued to talk this week.  Finally just after the show yesterday, he IMed as usual.  We talked for about five minutes and then he said there some thing he wanted me to do.  I ask what that was and he said that he was needing materials sent from here so he could get the job finished and come home to his bride.  That they had run out of materials.  I said ok and he said that he wanted to give me his dads account number.  I ask why his dad could not do this for him and he said "He is late, remember I told you this".  It took a minute for his meaning to sink in but then I realized he was meaning that his dad was dead.  I immediately told him that he had just confirmed my suspicions.  He acted confused so I told him that I knew he was scamming me and that I was not fallling for it.   He told me to shut my f----king mouth.  I told him that I was not desperate enough to fall for any of his crap and that the authorities had been monitoring all communications with him.  I also told him that I was blocking all futher email and IM's from him.  He said that he would never forgive me for this and I told him I did not want his forgiveness or anything else.  That he was the one that had been scammed. and then blocked him.  I checked yahoo last night for his profile and it is gone.  both name and Yahoo ID are not to be found.  The pic he sent was of a very handsome man and I know that if he really looked like that he would have women falling all over him.   I have now changed my email and Yahoo ID.  If it sounds too good to be true then believe me it is.  Nobody can fall in love with a picture. 

I too fell in love with a handsome man in Africa who claims he lived in the same state i was born in New Jersey.  We have been and still writing to one another for a year now and yes i fell in love with a perfect stranger.  I told him that i don't have money and thats when he asked me to get him a loan for $20,000 dollars so he can come home.  I told him that he is crazy and also told him that he was a scammer and to leave me alone.  well he did for awhile , but yesterday he came back on line telling me he doesn't want the money he only wants me.  Well after watching this show i  put him on my ignore lisy on my computer  hoping he leaves me alone.

i have learn my lesson and blocked them all off my computer.

thank you Dr. Phil good show