Has someone offered you a huge sum of money or a valuable consignment? It's a 419 or advance fee fraud - find out how they work, and what to do to be safe.
by jennycurran1 Sun Feb 23, 2014 4:15 pm
My Mum is being scammed and won't listen to her family! We are at a loss as to what to do?
She has been speaking to a man for a few months now who has her convinced that he loves her and they are going to live happily ever in his home town of Texas.
He says he went to work in Dubai before Christmas (round about the time they started talking) - says it was to oversee the completion of a part that was needed by his work back in the US. He says that his business partner went home to China before Christmas, took I'll and subsequently passed away a few weeks ago. He says he has no access to cash as he can't access his home accounts (claims they are closed now for whatever reason...) Hasno credit cards, no access to any work funds, owes a large bill to the hotel he is staying in. Had her convinced that he was coming to the UK at the start of January - she even made me take her to pick him up. He claims the authorities wouldn't let him leave as his visa had expired and ceased his passport? Claims now that he has to pay a fine to get new visas and his passport back. Says the only money he has is an inheritence left to him by his Dad, this is in an account held with goldbankc.com - says the bank say they can't release the funds to him directly but to a beneficiary. He (and the people at the 'bank') have convinced her to sign as beneficiary and she has sent them all her personal banking details, copy of her passport and her NI number. They now claim that for the funds to be released she has to send a percentage as to cover a tax fee...?? The 'contact' at the bank says that if she can make some of the payment she will pay the rest as this person is a good customer bla bla.....
I know all this as I monitor my mums email activity as she was scammed just back in October by a fake soldier and she took it really bay and took an overdose!
My sister and I are at our whits end. She doesn't talk about this man with us as we always dismiss it and try to convince her it is a scam! I have contacted fraud agencies and they say that because she hasn't given permission they can't help me. The police say no crime committed so they can't help me! I have emailed the US embassy in Dubai and they say the story doesn't make sense and have given me the proper telephone number that he should call. My friend also emailed the 'bank' saying she has been asked to sign as a beneficiary but she noticed that they do not have a business address, registration no etc and could they provide this to her..... No reply! She also emailed the man in question and told him she knew what he was doing and had a PI on his case, no reply...... My mum has started sending him money to keep him alive over there whilst they 'wait' and see what the bank can do with regards to releasing the funds.....??
I just feel - Aaaarrrrgggg like banging my mother head off a brick wall or looking into possibly having her committed??
Anyone any suggestions? :(
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by Smith Jones Sun Feb 23, 2014 9:05 pm
Hi jennycuran1, thank you for coming to scamwarners. It is always hard to watch a family member go through something like this, especially when all you can do at this point is guide but watch it unfold. Please provide some of the emails and pictures, etc to the Mods so they can give the full picture of who is scamming your mum.
If you can get her to come to this site, she can be given the tools she needs to find out the truth. The problem is she really doesn't want the truth. It is not as pretty as the lie she is being told and that she wants to believe. It winds up the victim and makes them think life will be exactly as the scammer says it will be. How do I know? I fell for the pretty lies too and my scammer of course had similar issues with travel back to me. It is always something, always a problem, always an intervention needed with money attached.
Please do what you can to stop her, knowing that it will take a great deal of work to get her to let go of the scammer. You may need some professional help and don't be afraid to get it. Since she has been scammed before, there is an element missing in her life for which the scammer has found and is exploiting. If you can get her to come here and look at the posts, especially the wide variety, she might see something that shows her she has reasons to doubt. We are here to help,so let us know if we can assist any further.
by coinpuppy Mon Feb 24, 2014 5:15 pm
I agree try to get your mom here so that she can meet other people who are victims as well. Keep trying with authorities.....maybe also try the bank you mom goes too, they can let her know that banks do NOT communicate by email etc etc....Perhaps someone from A Senior Omsbusman organization can come speak with her.....Also do not communicate with the scammer yourself...all it does is help them make there scam even better....than they come up with better lies...also this guy is most likely an african boy in an internet cafe...he will never be caught and he knows it

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