Sweetheart Scammer or did this really hot person pick me above all others?

[ribshaw]

Dr. Phil sure does drag this one out, here are the low-lights.

‘Dr. Phil’ Producer Goes To Texas Searching For ‘Wife’ Of Man Whom He’s Never Met In Person | Dr. Phil

Dr. Phil Calls 'Lawyer' Allegedly Helping Man To Get 'Wife's' $10 Million Inheritance - See What Happens | Dr. Phil

Man Who Has Only Seen Pictures Of ‘Wife’ He Met And Married Online Meets Real Woman From The Photos | Dr. Phil

[ribshaw]

Once he gained their trust, prosecutors say, Campbell would ask his friends or romantic partners for money.

California man accused of $1 million romance scam – East Bay Times

[ribshaw]

What's old is new again.

Romance and investment cryptocurrency scams bilk Vancouverites of almost $2 million in one week | Georgia Straight Vancouver's News & Entertainment Weekly

[ribshaw]

Meet in person, don't send money.

In a world of deep fakes I can only imagine how convincing a video chat can be, but just what are you being convinced of?

The online 'romance' started when Tom matched with a woman called 'Zhu Xin' on Tinder. After about a week, the pair took their conversations to WhatsApp. They had video calls where Tom could "see her face". Zhu Xin sent him videos including clothing purchases and a cafe she said she owned, showing she had money.

Their conversations then moved to the foreign exchange market, where Tom was already trading. It was a mutual 'interest' - or so Tom thought. Zhu Xin sent screenshots of trades she'd done, claiming she was a 'VIP client' of a trading company called Business Choice Partners Group. She also sent 'trade information', indicating it was exclusive to VIP members and she wasn't supposed to share.

'I feel terrible': Man who lost life savings to woman he met on Tinder warns Kiwis to do their research | Newshub

[ribshaw]

Nothing says I love you you're being scammed like sending a gift card.

He gave her access to see his Bank of America online account, for example, to prove that he could be trusted and he'd pay her back soon. She saw that he had more than $2 million sitting there in the bank. He just needed her to help him deal with a payment while he was overseas.

He was in Iraq, working for the United Nations as a surgeon. They soon began talking on the Hangouts App.

Tony was handsome, spoke with a French accent, often was able to talk with her four or five times a day, and told her loving things, like: "I woke up this morning and I missed you."

Widow drained of $39K in gift card scam by a man she fell for | Nation | grandhaventribune.com

[ribshaw]

After she sent this guy her last $5000 grand-
he sends her an an unemployment card to convert to money orders-
to deposit in her bank-
to convert to bitcoin-
to wait for it-
send to him.

Women looking for love say they were tricked into being ‘money mules’

Money Mules — FBI

Money mule - Wikipedia

What's a money mule scam? | FTC Consumer Information

I'm sure we covered Money Mules in the not too recent past. But let's pretend for a minute this isn't an outright scam.

Sensible Dating Advice from Uncle Ribshaw

1. Don't send people money
2. When in doubt see rule number one
3. Sounds like a legit reason to send money, see rule number four.
4. Of course it sounds legit silly pants or it would be a sucky scam, but then again love. Oh and rule number 1 applies.
5. She/He needs multiple money shifting transactions to pay a bill or shudder to say have you make investment. See rule 1 and 4 above. Also please proceed to Elitist Dating Advice Below.

Elitist Dating Advice from Uncle Ribshaw

1. Don't date people that don't have their financial **** together unless you plan on supporting them like an adult child.
2. She/He sent you flowers while on unemployment. That money would have been better spent on a baloney sandwich or a bus pass to look for work. See rule number 1.
3. She/He has hours to spend online cooing over you instead of looking for work, sounds like quite a catch. See rule number 1.