Mom is being scammed

My mom met Josh on a dating website in May 2011. They immediately began to email, text and call each other. He sent my mom gifts such as cases of wine, victoria's secret dresses, desserts, and jewelry. He said was English but was in the U.S. doing some type of import export work. He had to leave the U.S. to go to Ecuador to inspect and distribute merchandise that was shipped there via ship containers. He was in Ecuador for 10 months or more. During that time he was beat up, mugged, arrested, and in an explosion. His goal was to have the containers emptied in Ecuador and distributed to local vendors. He kept having to bribe the dock workers to try to persuade them to open his containers. He constantly had to go to the bank and request money to be wired to him from his bank in England. People would follow him out of the bank, mug and beat him up. A two week trip in Ecuador turned in to a 10 months or a year. I can't remember. But since he was there for so long his VISA expired and he was thrown in the immigration jail because he let his VISA expire. He somehow escaped the prison and fled the country with no documents. He now had no money, documentation or identification. His plan was to flee to columbia then go to his embassy in Panama. To do that he would need $1500 usd. But, it would be paid back. During that time my mom had received a letter from a bank in Ecuador dated 5/11/12 stating that she was to receive a large amount of money that would be wired into her bank account within 8 weeks. It was is profit from the merchandise in the containers. Once in Panama his embassy would be able to identify him and provide him with proper documentation to fly to California to be with my mother. He went from Ecuador to Columbia and got stuck. His guide wanted more money. I don't know how much my mom sent him, but somehow he made it to Panama. He went to his embassy and was not granted permission to enter the U.S. He would have to return to England. He refused and made arrangements for a guide to take him to Mexico. But, that would cost more money...of course..nothing is free! Again my mom sent him an unknown sum of money. He made it to Mexican border but in order for him to travel through Mexico he would need a travel document. Once again needing more money to bribe someone into providing it. He received his travel document and was on his way to Tijuana. He called my mom on his was and said, "I'll be there in 4 hours, pick me up at the Cali Mexico border." She was over joyed with excitement! He was finally on his way. But, when he didn't call or show up days later..something was wrong. 9 days later he called her telling her that the federalis invaded the bus they attacked beat him up and took away his travel document. He was returned to the Mexican border where he had started. Now, in order for him to be able to travel with in Mexico he would have to hire a guide and purchase a document called, a "SALIDA." Which of course would cost more money..$2500. My mom was devastated, she wanted nothing more than to have him home with her. So, she sold her car and sent him the money. At this time I do not know his status. I would ask my mom but she is very skeptical about giving me information. She doesn't like me scolding her on the decisions she makes in her life. I have tried to warn her about romance scams, I sent her a link to the FBI that has an article about romance scams. I even sent her a picture of him today that I found on a dating scam website. She denies that it is him, but it looks just like the pictures she has of him. I don't know what else to do.

Here is an email he sent me in march along with the IP address and email content:

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Hey,
I should have mailed in a while like I did promised when I called you earli=
er today but sorry, my situation over here at the moment would not sound go=
od to you as it is to your mom, My love and you know that families are fore=
ver and there is nothing like when they all seems happy with one another al=
l the time. Moreover, my grandpa back in the days always tell me that 'YOUR=
FAMILY IS YOUR LIFE and GOD IS THE GREAT PUNISHER'. Hope you do understand=
what that means right? Enough of the sentimentals, and tell me, how is the=
grandson doing VJ? And what about you and your family too?=20
I just wanted you to know that the problems I have being facing over here h=
as being what has not given me that expected grace from God to be home with=
you all people and only God knows how much I do miss the family and especi=
ally your mom, whom I had always adored as my ONE and ONLY. But was not sur=
e if she did tell you what I am facing or probably going through right now =
over here, cos at the moment I am at the border of Ecuador via Colombia bec=
ause I had problems over here in Ecuador and if I was meant to write about =
it, guess it might take all day long to be able to explain to you, but if y=
ou could call to your mom, I am sure she will explain better about what I h=
ad faced and being through over here and the reason why I have to leave and=
the much reason why I feel it is hightime I plan on final settling down wi=
th a new life, a new beginning and I feel without my=20
wife (your mom), THE WORLD WOULD ONLY FEEL LONELY TO ME, that is why I and =
your mom are doing the best to make sure I have to leave here (Ecuador) ASA=
P please.
Well, not to talk much, I did spoke with your mom which she did explain to =
me that you could be of the assistance that I asked of her, because I felt =
ashamed for asking such a help,cos to me, you seem to be like my sister or =
the family if I may say, and beleive me I just could not contact any of my =
people because I did lost all my contacts and finally thought that your mom=
would be the one, but she told me that she was right now=20
financially down and if I could talk to you. Not knowing where to start fro=
m, I just thought first I should call you today to be sure how you were doi=
ng and the baby and thought it was best sending an email instead of talking=
over the phone.=20
I would be needing your assistance in terms of monetary aspect but please r=
emember, this is not a give away, I will be needing you to borrow it me ple=
ase and I had already talked this over with your mom, whom said you could b=
e of the positive assistance. I have to leave Ecuador border to Colombia=A0=
before Sunday, and the one helping me over here to assist me in crossing h=
as not got that much time and I know it all seems kind of late but nothing =
is not possible when we do beleive right? I need your assistance with about=
$1500 USD please, because what I would be needing it all for is for my jou=
rney from here to California. Just a brief of it; passing through by road t=
o Colombia, also via Panama and from there, flying down to California. Well=
, your mom already known much of it, so for me explaining would take all of=
time which I feel I do not have much time and moreover, I just need your q=
uick response about how you would be able to assist me ASAP in other
for me not to get stucked here please. So please do not mind me asking for=
such a help as your mom already told me as well that if NOW is not the rig=
ht time to ask of such, when would it be? Thanks and awaiting your quick re=
sponse.=20
Kiss and Missing the family
Josh

Rose it's 120% scam as you know. A classic scam actually.
216.169.110.193 from the letter is a proxy IP number used to hide the scammers place of sending..

Thanks for your reply! I looked up that IP address and it shows that the emails are coming from North Carolina. Is that accurate? I spoke to my mom this morning. She said that "Josh" is traveling from Tepachula, Mexico to Tijuana, Mexico via "Coyote." My mom is very old school and doesn't understand a lot of today's technology. When I told her I traced his emails and that they seem to be originating in North Carolina. Which would means that "Josh" is not in Mexico, but has been in North Carolina all along. She told me, "Mija he's still in Mexico he's coming via Coyote." That told me that she really does not get it. I need anyone's advice on how I can get through to my mom and convince her that he is a scam.

Rose. IP numbers are allocated by the company who provide the internet service and according to location of that company. A company in UK would give you a number from the UK ALLOCATED TO IT'S USERS. If you are in NIGERIA you get a number from a Nigeria provider. If you are a criminal and want to hide that origin then you use a proxy IP. When on internet your computer is talking direct to your Companies computer, and if you send a mail it goes from your box, to the company and then to the recipients company, and then is sent on and carries your IP number. If you use a proxy it goes to your company, then to the proxy company who strip your IP off and add theirs, then to the recipients company and then to them. So an extra step is taken . WHY? Because for whatever reason you wish to hide where you are to defeat a block from a site, such a school children who try to beat school blocks.OR because you are SCAMMER AND WANT TO LIE TO YOUR CONTACT and hide your real location.

I hope the useless spammers who arrive here and try it on, get added to the excellent "Stopforumspam" website. I add my dozen a week to the listings to help, just as I add the scammers here. I regard it as a social duty really. Some sites have blocking mechanisms based on the info given which saves them grief. Some really nice websites are beset by these fellow scum who sit alongside scammers pretty neatly.

If it were me, I would run (don't walk) to your local police dept. and talk to a detective or someone who can advise you what to do and where to go for help. Your mother is not listening to you and I think you need to up the ante and bring in some help. If allowed to continue, the scammer will take everything she has. And then where it's over, he or a co-conspirator, will contact her offering to help get some of her money back...at a price of course ...and she will be scammed again.

I was never scammed, but I once had a relationship online and I KNOW how it can border on insanity and make a person not be able to think rationally. You need help to get through to her!!!

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

BTW...this is my first post. here. I joined when I saw your post about your mother. I am a member of a scam baiter site and I know how despicable and heartless scammers can be.

S

Also...go to the "Internet Crime Control Center" <<<(Just google that)...A partnership between the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C).

You can file a complaint there and they will look into it as well as give you advice what to do.

Good Luck!!

S