Help me with my scam [email protected]

I am in contact with a man I met on match.com. He has all the marks of being a scammer but I still fell for him:
Went to Malaysia to collect an inheritance
Needed money for fees to collect the inheritance and come home
Got held up in Hong Kong customs due to not claiming the amount of money properly.
He now claims he will go to jail in Hong Kong if I can't help with a fee to the Customs officials. I helped pay an initial fee, took me time to get the money, so they came back saying they now need a late fee.
He has an aggressive lawyer who has been a point of contact once he got to Hong Kong. I don't have her name but I do have the phone number.
Facts from match.com: widower. Ex- wife cheated then died of cancer. Father died 12 years ago, left a trust to be collected after 10 years. Son and mom live in Canada. Son is 17, so underage and can't help with money issues. Chemical engineering contractor. Lives in my city for engineering firm that has an office here.
Every time he told me something it was never directly looking like a scam. But now that I've researched, it looks to just be a variation on the scheme.
He needs $1000 to pay Customs and I've delayed him saying I can't get the money until mid next week.
Help me. I have waffled many times this week, afraid he's really a person in trouble. I fell hard for him, even though I'm smart enough to really see through all this.
His name is Eddie Chapman. Yahoo emails is edchappie.com. He sent emails and we chat via Yahoo Messenger. I can send pictures, emails, have the yahoo scripts. he has no Facebook page. Photos don't show up on any of the scam searches. All that did was help me believe he's real.
I need help to make sure I let go of this, mourn and move on. This is my second scammer- the first was less sophisticated so I cut that off. Online dating is the worst if this is all someone deserves.

Please, try to get a grip on reality. You fell in love with a picture and some words in an email. You are living in a fantasy. This is not a real person, only a prank, a scheme, a scam, to get you to donate money to some guy. Stop!

Get involved in real life around you. Join, volunteer. Maybe church, hospital, political organizations, whatever interests you. Turn off the computer and get out, live a real life. There are people searching for you, want to meet you, want you as a real friend.

Have to agree this looks like a typical scammer,

He is not in trouble, and the only money he needs is yours which you will never see again.

Please have no more contact, and ignore this scammer

Gateway: I just sent some emails and more details.

Mumbles- do you know how hard this is when cold reality smacks you in the face? When all you wanted to do was meet someone, not go find one more friend? I understand your feedback but I'm at the mourning the death of a dream phase so your words don't help.

Hello

I need help to make sure I let go of this, mourn and move on. This is my second scammer- the first was less sophisticated so I cut that off. Online dating is the worst if this is all someone deserves.

Do not feel bad or helpless. Scammers are good at what they do. I hate that you were scammed and victimized. You are not the first person to be scammed like this nor the last.

Luckily now you know he is a scammer and you have to let go of the fake relationship. Romance scammers make sure that they lead a victim on for months sometimes years before asking for money. These scammers work on the victims emotions, lack of sleep and proper meals. Romance scammers tend to want their victims on their time schedules, meaning the victim is up late at night and not on a normal schedule.

What you need to do and have to do is accept he is a scammer and stop all communication. The best way is to block him from calling you or get a new phone number. You also need to cancel the email address he has for you and get a new one. If not the temptation to read his mail or answer his calls will be hard to resist. He will always lie to you and attempt to make you believe he is real. Also, if you do not do this he will contact you with a new name and email address. In search of a new romance scam.

Scammers like this will also later contact you with a fake name promising to get your money back ( viewforum.php?f=14 ). This is also a lie. You will never get your money back.

With Dating Sites you will find that majority of people who contact you will be scammers.

Bryon

Thanks Bryon. Since I've kept this romance secret, just admitting it today helps start the healing. I think the emotional part is way worse than the money. I will follow your suggestions and move on but no more online dating.

Sorry, wasn't trying to be cruel. Just wanted to make sure you know, there is no handsome man trapped in Hong Kong, with a suitcase of money, waiting for you to bail him out with your $1000. I would have been sad to hear you decided to trust him one more time and wasted more money.

Its been expensive lesson, but, now you are wiser than you were. Your future is looking bright. You won't be fooled again.

We all make mistakes. On sites like this, we can share our experiences with others, and all of us can avoid painful errors.

I understand that you meant no harm. I'm afraid those of us who finally figure it out feel already slapped by the universe. Rest assured, no more money is leaving and I'm not paying attention. I appreciate this forum. I look forward to healing.

Ok thanks I have replied to your email.

[email protected]
Eddie Chapman

Elvira,
It's nice to read from you this morning, yes truly I am really busy this days and I understand if you are insecure but I want you to know we have all been hurt in the past but all we need to do is to get grip of our self and move on with our life hoping we will find our soul mate one day. Always remember every new day is another chance to change your life. Friendship multiples the good of life and divides the bad. To have a good friend is one of the delights in life, and you are a delight, my friend. A true friend sees the first tear, catches the second and stops the third. Side by side near or apart you are always close to my heart. If friendship was a garden you'd be the most beautiful flower, the brightest rose. Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe unto him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. I am glad to have you as my friend.

I want you to know if ever you feel you need a friend to lend you an ear to listen or if you need someone to reach out and wipe the tears that glisten, I'll be there. If ever you feel you have special needs and you need a friend to see them or you have deep secrets and you could do with a friend to free them, I'll be there. If ever you feel all alone and you need someone to walk you home or if you need someone to hold your hand to help you across uncharted land, I'll be there. If ever you feel you need a friend who you can always rely one who will help in every way without taking a license to pry or if you need someone to have fun with on a weekend who'll never use the words it will all depend, I'll be there, because ever since I met you on Match.com, I've never wanted this to end.

I am sending you some of my pics hope you will like them.. First three of my pics was a long time ago and rest are recent.

Eddie.

I have also been scammed by this person. Same story and same pics. Only thing we can do now is learn and move on.

I am so very sorry that you have been scammed by this "I use the term loosely," human being. JDMC, it was an elaborate scam. You have been very hurt and you certainly need support, not someone telling you that you will be wiser in the future. I am very glad that I came across this forum. I am seeing how sophisticated these scammers are getting. Wouldn't it be nice to round all of them up and place them on an isolated island somewhere?

I am so sorry to find out anyone else got scammed by the same people. I am still dealing with the fallout. Loss of money, loss of trust. Be well.