by Sta Naz
Thu Sep 28, 2017 8:54 pm
My story:
Nearly got scammed but picked up on logical red flags & ended the 'relationship' before any financial damage.
Note: I do not have his emails as I deleted them a while ago since I didnt expect to keep in touch with him however I can summarize them as follows (if it helps)
Scammer details:
Name: Prakash Harry Roy a.k.a. Prakash Harry
Based in: West brompton, London, U.K.
Nationality: British/Indian
Birth Date: 6 August 1982
Height: 5.11 or 6 feet
Email: [email protected]
Tel: +447743371204/+442036953422
Skype ID: rakashoy1
Background:
I met him online on a matrimonial site called 'Jeevansathi.com'in July 2017. I initiated an 'interest' in him via the website & he sent me the above in an email.
I definitely fell in love with the man in the pictures but something about the man (scammer) I was talking to always put me off. I will briefly list my reasons below:
My concerns/red flags:
1. Intro email:
He emailed me first in July with the above detailed information (which I thought as odd to share with a complete stranger).He expected me to reply back with the same info about myself but I didnt. I said 'thank-you' & 'let's keep in touch' as I wasnt keen on share this info so early. I thought about this & went back to the site to review his profile but couldnt find it. I emailed him to check what happened. He said he deleted it & gave me a UK (00447743.....) number to contact him.
2. Whatsapp communication and phone calls.
I added him on whatsapp and we started talking. I was skeptical as to why a well established man of his calibre would be on a matrimonial website. He insisted that he cannot find a woman of substance in London; everyone was looking for a fling or sex. During the following days he sent me a picture of him at the gym - shirtless & i commented that he was 'messing around with me'. He took offence & blocked me. I felt bad and wrote to him asking what the problem was but he didnt reply. Feeling emotional & disrespected - I emailed him again calling him out on his behaviour. He whatsapps the next day apologizing and we were in regular contact after that.
In August, his messages became sporadic & I questioned him about it. He then decided to 'call' instead of messaging.
When the call came through, it showed up as a Saudi Arabian number! When I told him of this - he said he had no idea. When I tried to call him back on his UK mobile number - it never went through! He later explained that the +447743 number was for whatsapp only (?). He gave me a landline number +44202...& i didnt think much after that. We later switched to Skype but he had issued with Skype as it was apparently 'logging him out'.
Important: While we spoke - his accent did NOT in anyway sound British. It was more Jamaican or African. I quized him about it & he said UK has different accents. I let it go.
3. Travel to London/USA:
In August, I travelled to London & hoped to catch up with him. When I told him this, he said he had travel plans for work. He was headed to New York (USA) for a medical conference for 2 weeks. Before his departure, we messaged for 2 hours on whatsapp and he even sent me pictures of his 'travel companions' in addition to pictures of his last trip to the USA. He also shared pictures of his medical volunteering in Burundi (Africa) and his 'godchild' back in the UK. He stressed how much he loves kids. Lastly, he shared a picture of his family and friends from his recent birthday. I felt very connected and he welcomed the idea of keeping in touch even while he was in the US.
While he was in the US, we did message randomly (mostly I initiated). I also kept asking for pictures however he promised but never delivered those which upset me and made me wonder why would it be so hard to send simple pictures. I got tired of asking & let it go.
4. Intimate conversations and love proclamations:
During this 2 hour conversation before his travels in August, we had a very open & deep conversation about our lives. In the heat of the moment - I told him that I liked him and he said he felt the same way too & then he went on about how beautiful I was etc. I was elated & liked him even more.
Over the last 6 weeks, I admit that I have developed feelings for this person prematurely and last week, I expressed that I would like to take this relationship seriously and see if things work out. In the last 2 weeks he has proactively talked about sex and It took me by surprise. I didn't say anything but only listened as some part of me wondered if this conversation is being recorded (this is my paranoia kicking in now). This scenario happened twice.
On the last night - we arranged a Skype call, he started off the conversation saying that he had developed deep feelings for me & that he was falling in love with me. He also mentioned that while he may not always message (because he has been extremely quiet on whatsapp for a while & I told him so) I am always on his mind.
When i requested to have a video call (since we tried it before & it didnt work becoz he had technical issues), he was again having technical issues with his phone and couldnt have a video call.
This sudden proclamation of love & the excuses for the video call was too much & that's when I was convinced that something is 100% off with this guy.
5. Random observations:
-His grammar was terrible most of the time.
-He normally gets upset that I 'nag' all the time. i.e because I keep asking the same question till I get an answer.
- In some of his pictures - he comes across as gay and most of whom have seen his pictures have confirmed this thought. In addition, in some of his pictures - there are indications of him attending a gay festival in Spain. I casually asked him about this and he denied it very calmly and made up some story about how he hates homosexuals etc.
-During one of our conversations, I asked him his profession and he said he was a neurosurgeon (?) when I reminded him that his profile said 'orthopaedic surgeon' - he ignored me completely.
-He had a picture of one of his male 'friends' as his whatsapp picture. I asked him 4 times - 'why' would he do that - he never replied!
-The time on his phone (from his whatsapp screenshots) did not show UK time (a 3 hours difference from where I am). Instead it shows a 7 hour difference. I did not confronted him on this.
-His internet connection seems to 'drop' off every night at the same time & no messages get delivered till 7 hours later.
-He has never used my name & always uses 'babe', 'sweetie' and starts his sentence with 'am ok/great etc'
-During a conversation, he mentioned that he has been in the UK for only 4 years & lived in the US (New York, California & Alabama) for most of his life & completed medical school from there. That doesnt add up.
-95% of our communication was initiated by me. He responds in monosyllables most of the time or says he is 'busy' at work while I can see him online on whatsapp.
this week at our last whatsapp conversation, I told him if we can do a video call, we are done. He got upset, started to argue. I couldnt help myself - I called him a fraud! He said 'enough' & blocked me on whatsapp. Later, I was emotional/upset & emailed him calling him out on his fraud. I havent heard from him since.
Moral of the story: If it seems too good to be true, it probably isnt real & always trust your gut instinct.
Nearly got scammed but picked up on logical red flags & ended the 'relationship' before any financial damage.
Note: I do not have his emails as I deleted them a while ago since I didnt expect to keep in touch with him however I can summarize them as follows (if it helps)
Scammer details:
Name: Prakash Harry Roy a.k.a. Prakash Harry
Based in: West brompton, London, U.K.
Nationality: British/Indian
Birth Date: 6 August 1982
Height: 5.11 or 6 feet
Email: [email protected]
Tel: +447743371204/+442036953422
Skype ID: rakashoy1
Background:
- Supposedly moved with his family to the UK from Bhubaneshwar (India) when he was 7.
His mother is Indian & father from Newcastle, U.K.
He is a doctor (othropaedic) surgeon & or neurosurgeon.
He is God fearing.
His reason for being on a matrimonial site is 'looking for a serious relationship, wants to settle down and tired of people playing games'.His future plans are to build a hospital to cater to those who dont have access to proper medical facilities in India.
I met him online on a matrimonial site called 'Jeevansathi.com'in July 2017. I initiated an 'interest' in him via the website & he sent me the above in an email.
I definitely fell in love with the man in the pictures but something about the man (scammer) I was talking to always put me off. I will briefly list my reasons below:
My concerns/red flags:
1. Intro email:
He emailed me first in July with the above detailed information (which I thought as odd to share with a complete stranger).He expected me to reply back with the same info about myself but I didnt. I said 'thank-you' & 'let's keep in touch' as I wasnt keen on share this info so early. I thought about this & went back to the site to review his profile but couldnt find it. I emailed him to check what happened. He said he deleted it & gave me a UK (00447743.....) number to contact him.
2. Whatsapp communication and phone calls.
I added him on whatsapp and we started talking. I was skeptical as to why a well established man of his calibre would be on a matrimonial website. He insisted that he cannot find a woman of substance in London; everyone was looking for a fling or sex. During the following days he sent me a picture of him at the gym - shirtless & i commented that he was 'messing around with me'. He took offence & blocked me. I felt bad and wrote to him asking what the problem was but he didnt reply. Feeling emotional & disrespected - I emailed him again calling him out on his behaviour. He whatsapps the next day apologizing and we were in regular contact after that.
In August, his messages became sporadic & I questioned him about it. He then decided to 'call' instead of messaging.
When the call came through, it showed up as a Saudi Arabian number! When I told him of this - he said he had no idea. When I tried to call him back on his UK mobile number - it never went through! He later explained that the +447743 number was for whatsapp only (?). He gave me a landline number +44202...& i didnt think much after that. We later switched to Skype but he had issued with Skype as it was apparently 'logging him out'.
Important: While we spoke - his accent did NOT in anyway sound British. It was more Jamaican or African. I quized him about it & he said UK has different accents. I let it go.
3. Travel to London/USA:
In August, I travelled to London & hoped to catch up with him. When I told him this, he said he had travel plans for work. He was headed to New York (USA) for a medical conference for 2 weeks. Before his departure, we messaged for 2 hours on whatsapp and he even sent me pictures of his 'travel companions' in addition to pictures of his last trip to the USA. He also shared pictures of his medical volunteering in Burundi (Africa) and his 'godchild' back in the UK. He stressed how much he loves kids. Lastly, he shared a picture of his family and friends from his recent birthday. I felt very connected and he welcomed the idea of keeping in touch even while he was in the US.
While he was in the US, we did message randomly (mostly I initiated). I also kept asking for pictures however he promised but never delivered those which upset me and made me wonder why would it be so hard to send simple pictures. I got tired of asking & let it go.
4. Intimate conversations and love proclamations:
During this 2 hour conversation before his travels in August, we had a very open & deep conversation about our lives. In the heat of the moment - I told him that I liked him and he said he felt the same way too & then he went on about how beautiful I was etc. I was elated & liked him even more.
Over the last 6 weeks, I admit that I have developed feelings for this person prematurely and last week, I expressed that I would like to take this relationship seriously and see if things work out. In the last 2 weeks he has proactively talked about sex and It took me by surprise. I didn't say anything but only listened as some part of me wondered if this conversation is being recorded (this is my paranoia kicking in now). This scenario happened twice.
On the last night - we arranged a Skype call, he started off the conversation saying that he had developed deep feelings for me & that he was falling in love with me. He also mentioned that while he may not always message (because he has been extremely quiet on whatsapp for a while & I told him so) I am always on his mind.
When i requested to have a video call (since we tried it before & it didnt work becoz he had technical issues), he was again having technical issues with his phone and couldnt have a video call.
This sudden proclamation of love & the excuses for the video call was too much & that's when I was convinced that something is 100% off with this guy.
5. Random observations:
-His grammar was terrible most of the time.
-He normally gets upset that I 'nag' all the time. i.e because I keep asking the same question till I get an answer.
- In some of his pictures - he comes across as gay and most of whom have seen his pictures have confirmed this thought. In addition, in some of his pictures - there are indications of him attending a gay festival in Spain. I casually asked him about this and he denied it very calmly and made up some story about how he hates homosexuals etc.
-During one of our conversations, I asked him his profession and he said he was a neurosurgeon (?) when I reminded him that his profile said 'orthopaedic surgeon' - he ignored me completely.
-He had a picture of one of his male 'friends' as his whatsapp picture. I asked him 4 times - 'why' would he do that - he never replied!
-The time on his phone (from his whatsapp screenshots) did not show UK time (a 3 hours difference from where I am). Instead it shows a 7 hour difference. I did not confronted him on this.
-His internet connection seems to 'drop' off every night at the same time & no messages get delivered till 7 hours later.
-He has never used my name & always uses 'babe', 'sweetie' and starts his sentence with 'am ok/great etc'
-During a conversation, he mentioned that he has been in the UK for only 4 years & lived in the US (New York, California & Alabama) for most of his life & completed medical school from there. That doesnt add up.
-95% of our communication was initiated by me. He responds in monosyllables most of the time or says he is 'busy' at work while I can see him online on whatsapp.
this week at our last whatsapp conversation, I told him if we can do a video call, we are done. He got upset, started to argue. I couldnt help myself - I called him a fraud! He said 'enough' & blocked me on whatsapp. Later, I was emotional/upset & emailed him calling him out on his fraud. I havent heard from him since.
Moral of the story: If it seems too good to be true, it probably isnt real & always trust your gut instinct.