by Samhain
Sat May 11, 2013 7:36 am
Good morning
I would like to advise that I was recently romanced by a guy calling himself Stephen Parker, based in Kabul, Afghanistan - usual story of deceased wife, child at boarding school, no access to his personal accounts and funds etc. Slight twist in that he wanted to send me a parcel containing a uniform padded out with millions of dollars along with some medals etc. for safe keeping. I was persuaded that I was truly speaking to the real man by using Skype for some very limited visual contact - the picture was very fractal and it turns out that the man I looked at is another person with very similar features - who may or may not be part of the scammer's group. I also spoke once or twice on Skype - the system was managed to keep on fading in and out. Further requests from me to use Skype Video or messaging was always blocked with - we are not allowed etc used up allowance for this month or whatever - the system is not working properly.
- I initially retreated from this - implying that the relationship was at an end. I then received a very carefully constructed and deeply personal email personalised to me - it was very long and very persuasive of the intent of my correspondent to be my lifelong partner - with utter truth and conviction. I relented thinking that I had misunderstood the intent etc. Several weeks went by with some wonderfully loving and attentive emails/music and poetry - very powerfully romantic. Then I was asked once again to hold this small parcel of uniform and medals for him - all the bells started ringing and I did write to the US Army CID - and started searching the net for more support/info. I thought that I would continue to waste the scammers time - to find out more info etc and so tentatively agreed - but gave a disassociated address to mine for delivery.
This parcel was being transported by a courier who was then held up at customs in Italy with a request to pay additional custom duties - which is when I was contacted to pay these fees - which was initially quoted in US Dollars, then converted to UK £ and then when I questioned this (I had recognised the scam some time ago and had continued to waste their time) was advised that this was the currency conversion from Italian money to mine so that I would be able to make the payment. I asked how the parcel had entered into Europe - was advised that the first entry was at Turkey . At which I pointed out that once someone had entered Europe - at whichever point of entry - there were no further customs or duties to be paid - and that any request would be in Eurodollars and not US dollars. There were a couple more emails applying pressure for me to pay the custom dues interspersed with loving and attentive emails - eventually it all fizzled out.
I was very lucky that some warning bells triggered off - but also I was being very carefully groomed and romanced - and I must admit I loved the attention. I was very lucky.
I no longer hold any photos of Stephen Parker - but have become a member of a Victim Support website on Facebook which has a library of all the photos that the scammers are using - having stolen them from the real man several years ago - who is a genuine member of the US Army. I still hold all the emails that were written to me - and would be happy to send the headers across if one of the admin staff here wishes to contact me direct via my email address on the registration form.
I would like to advise that I was recently romanced by a guy calling himself Stephen Parker, based in Kabul, Afghanistan - usual story of deceased wife, child at boarding school, no access to his personal accounts and funds etc. Slight twist in that he wanted to send me a parcel containing a uniform padded out with millions of dollars along with some medals etc. for safe keeping. I was persuaded that I was truly speaking to the real man by using Skype for some very limited visual contact - the picture was very fractal and it turns out that the man I looked at is another person with very similar features - who may or may not be part of the scammer's group. I also spoke once or twice on Skype - the system was managed to keep on fading in and out. Further requests from me to use Skype Video or messaging was always blocked with - we are not allowed etc used up allowance for this month or whatever - the system is not working properly.
- I initially retreated from this - implying that the relationship was at an end. I then received a very carefully constructed and deeply personal email personalised to me - it was very long and very persuasive of the intent of my correspondent to be my lifelong partner - with utter truth and conviction. I relented thinking that I had misunderstood the intent etc. Several weeks went by with some wonderfully loving and attentive emails/music and poetry - very powerfully romantic. Then I was asked once again to hold this small parcel of uniform and medals for him - all the bells started ringing and I did write to the US Army CID - and started searching the net for more support/info. I thought that I would continue to waste the scammers time - to find out more info etc and so tentatively agreed - but gave a disassociated address to mine for delivery.
This parcel was being transported by a courier who was then held up at customs in Italy with a request to pay additional custom duties - which is when I was contacted to pay these fees - which was initially quoted in US Dollars, then converted to UK £ and then when I questioned this (I had recognised the scam some time ago and had continued to waste their time) was advised that this was the currency conversion from Italian money to mine so that I would be able to make the payment. I asked how the parcel had entered into Europe - was advised that the first entry was at Turkey . At which I pointed out that once someone had entered Europe - at whichever point of entry - there were no further customs or duties to be paid - and that any request would be in Eurodollars and not US dollars. There were a couple more emails applying pressure for me to pay the custom dues interspersed with loving and attentive emails - eventually it all fizzled out.
I was very lucky that some warning bells triggered off - but also I was being very carefully groomed and romanced - and I must admit I loved the attention. I was very lucky.
I no longer hold any photos of Stephen Parker - but have become a member of a Victim Support website on Facebook which has a library of all the photos that the scammers are using - having stolen them from the real man several years ago - who is a genuine member of the US Army. I still hold all the emails that were written to me - and would be happy to send the headers across if one of the admin staff here wishes to contact me direct via my email address on the registration form.