I think my aunt is possibly getting scammed on MATCH.com

My aunt recently moved back to the states from Hawaii, and we just recently got back into contact due to us both being really busy the last year or so. She told me she was engaged, I was really happy and excited for her. She mentioned that he is in Africa right now, building a Gas Station. Because he ... builds things? I don't know. Apparently he has built a hotel in Sweden, houses in Italy, I thought this all sounded really strange. I was excited for her, but had to ask how she met him because I was really curious how this engagement could happen so fast. She met him on match.com. She said he sent her a message the day before his trial expired. "He's never been on a dating site before, and it was my first time too" She went on to tell me how people are kind of weary about it, but that she knows people really well and can read them. After he is done with his work in Africa he is apparently going to retire and move to the state she is in and they are going to build, or buy, a house together. She has been talking to him since March. Apparently he emails her everyday. She said he's from Sparks, Nevada. He has a son in Florida going to college that has apparently "emailed her" too. I told her to be careful if he asks for money, and she said he hasn't at all, but the whole thing just gives me a really weird feeling. It doesn't feel right. I searched his name and couldn't find anything on him either. I was wondering what kind of scripts / things people use when doing these scams? Things they say, occupations they have, and pretty much any minor details I could get to maybe show her and see if there are any similarities. She thinks she is in love, and I know me pushing the fact he isn't real would hurt her but I feel she would be more hurt in the long run if he ends up screwing her over.

Oh, and he has apparently built an orphangae in some other country too.

Please post the emails he sent, including the email address. We can tell by his writing if he learned English (or French) in Africa, and if he's using a script, someone will recognize it. It does sound like a scam; it's unlikely that the same person would build or design all those different buildings in those different countries.

I don't have the emails, but I can try to get her to forward them to me. I have the feeling when I confront her on the fact I think it is a scam she is going to be kind of upset. She says she is really good at reading people, and thinks they are in love. His name is Gregory Richmond and apparently he is from Sparks, Nevada.

Welcome to Scamwarners warpaintstone ,

What you have described is a West African romance scam. Romance scammers may take up to a year before they start asking for money request. In this time they may even send flowers and gifts bought with stolen credit card information. The scammer may even want to use her bank account or pick up money from Western Union /Money Gram from other victims. Sometimes the scammer will send fake packages. Asking the victim to pay fees to the shipping company.

He has placed himself in Africa so it would not look strange to send money there when his pretend problems arise. The fake son is also in place to ask for gift or receive money. I'm am willing to bet his wife, and parents are dead.

The reason he was on Match for a few days is because Match learned he was a scammer and removed him. Scammers also have a hard time registering with Match because of Credit Card issues. The stolen card they used to register has been discovered by Match and their account is cancelled.

I would suggest that you send your aunt a link to this thread, maybe seeing some of the stories here will ring a bell.