I think I am being scammed?

Met a girl on Match.com. Started chatting and seemed normal at first. Then she claimed to be in maylaysia on business. Next thing I know her wallet is stolen and she has no family to rely on for help ( first red flag ) after an exhausted explanation she tells me her shipment that she was there for has been held up due to not being able to pay the shipping fees, customs fees and brokerage. She also couldn't pay for food or hotel. I didn't believe her at first, then we skyped, texted a lot and it seemed legit. Stupidly I send her money. She provided invoices, a copy of her passport (from sweden) any detail I requested I got. Had her name and address on it, even the products she had purchased. Customs for etc. I thought there is no way she could be faking it but my gut has been telling me otherwise.

She provided me her local address, which yesterday a visited and only to find out there is no one there by her name. So I know this is now a scam, not to mention she knew very little about the area she lived in. I should have listened to my gut, now what?

Now apparently she is in the hospital and just had surgery. I suspect she will now say she requires money for medical reasons. That ain't happening. How can I confirm the scam, and secondly how can I get her back? or can I? I need your help and advice.

Welcome to Scamwarners, I just wish it could be under happier circumstances.

Yes, this is a textbook romance scam, these stories of lost wallets, hospital fees, failed business ventures (etc) have been duplicated many times by scammers.

Scammers use pre-taped footage for Skype calls to make it look authentic.

Post up any pictures they have sent you (mark on the photos, "used by scammers,") I can guarantee it will be a picture the scammer has copied and pasted off the internet.

Post up the passport sent (mark it as "fake" so it can't be re-used by other scammers) and I guarantee it will be fake.

Also an example of an EMail the scammer sent you so others can be warned. Please make sure you take out any personal information about yourself though.