Online romance scam could have hurt more
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 13/01/2016 (3548 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Dear Miss Lonelyhearts: I met this guy from Switzerland online and we fell in love before we met. I sent him money for a ticket to come visit and was so excited for his arrival. I went to the airport, and he never arrived. I guess he just used that money back home, wherever that really is, and never bought a ticket to come here. He never answered any of my communications after he stood me up, except for one that said, “Sorry.”
I got used for the ticket money and it was a lot! Now I wonder how many others he also had on the romance string, making money from them at the same time. — Scammed and Still Hurting, Winnipeg
Dear Scammed: It may help to picture him working with a group out of an sweatshop-type of online cafe in his country, often on the west coast of Africa, with a boss patrolling the aisles. He takes the workers’ money then sends the guy home to his wife and kids with a pittance for the family. The pictures you got were fake. Some innocent guy on Facebook from Switzerland doesn’t know his photo is being used repeatedly to ensnare people like you.
Remember, you didn’t lose anybody because you were not involved with a real person, but the business in another country robbed you of the hope building in your heart. You feel foolish, but you’re lucky the employee of this gang didn’t scam you for more than a ticket. Some people lose their entire life savings.
Tell your single friends to be careful as Valentine’s Day approaches, as it’s an especially vulnerable period. Don’t let some handsome man who pops up on your Facebook page or on dating sites give you a big story as he sweetly chats you up, getting closer and closer to your bank account. He may try to send flowers, requiring your personal address and phone number for the delivery man.
If you really want to find out more about your particular scammer, you may see his handle (online nickname) reported on www.scamdex.com and/or see who else he has scammed with the same modus operandi as yours. You can file your own report, and also get educated with the list of scam-spotting tips.
Please send your questions and comments to lovecoach@hotmail.com or Miss Lonelyhearts c/o the Winnipeg Free Press, 1355 Mountain Ave., Winnipeg, MB, R2X 3B6
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