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Original poster

She's being scammed

127 replies

RAINBOW · 22/12/2017 22:33

A friend of mine is lovely, kind hearted, generous, loyal and fun. However she is also easily convinced and gullible. She met a man on a dating site several months ago and they started chatting. He says he is an American soldier with a young daughter (Shane) aged 6 is deoloyed in Nigeria for 7 months. He has sent her voice messages which do not have an American accent (African I think) and videos of him and his daughter. In the videos the mman has a Cockney accent and he calls the girl Macey. He has added her on Facebook. He only joined in August (while supposedly serving in Nigeria) and I don't think it's him. A few months ago some other friends and I talked to her about him saying it doesn't added up. My friend had reason for all of it. Macey is a nickname, he's putting on voices etc. She was adamant she had not sent him money. Last night, after a few drinks, she told us that about 3 weeks ago he asked for money to apply for leave to come to hers at Christmas. He needed £475 to apply and £2600 for a plane ticket with the promise of giving her £6000 when he arrives on the 23rd (tomorrow. My friend is on benefits so has got loans out to pay him. She sent the money so now has to wait until he arrives to buy presents for her 5 children. She also said that she doesn't know how she will feed them over the school holidays as she's been taking them to breakfast club and they've been having school dinners. Everyone can see this as a scam except her. If it was just her I would let her get on with it and be There when it all went pear shaped but it's the children I feel sorry for. WWYD?

OP posts:
Bananalanacake · 22/12/2017 22:37

Not a lot you can do sadly. Be there for her when she needs you.

Scarydinosaurs · 22/12/2017 22:39

Can you report it to the police? Say she’s a vulnerable person unaware she’s being scammed?

Itsjustaphase84 · 22/12/2017 22:42

Silly woman. its a classic scam. Can you show her real life stories online. There will be lots i reckon.

Be there for her. Not much else you can do.

SavoyCabbage · 22/12/2017 22:42

What an absolute disaster. Five children who she now can’t afford to feed. Does she have any extended family?

I don’t know what I would do in your situation.

tiktok · 22/12/2017 22:44

Go with her to the police when he fails to show up on Dec 23 with the money. Surely then she will realise it's a scam.

RestingGrinchFace · 22/12/2017 22:46

Oh dear, well he's not going to turn up and she will finally really how silly she's been. It's too late to do anything really, just be there to comfort her.

MotherofaSurvivor · 22/12/2017 22:49

Please call the Police and tell them she is vulnerable and being scammed. Sounds like she may need some SUPPORT from SS

thegrinchreaper · 22/12/2017 22:50

If she can't see how none of this adds up now, she'll probably not see it when he doesn't turn up, either and will believe his excuses and requests for more money.
Does she have any additional needs? The only thing I can think of is adult social care. The children are going to go without, which hasn't deterred her and she's not listening to your concerns either.
This is awful :(

LloydSpinjago · 22/12/2017 22:51

How is she vulnerable?

Stupid, definitely. But vulnerable?

Letseatgrandma · 22/12/2017 22:51

I struggle to believe that people can be duped like this! When does she think he’s arriving?

Gemini69 · 22/12/2017 22:53

I'm sorry but this Stupid Cow has sent £3075 !? and she has FIVE KIDS awaiting gifts on Christmas Morning?!

PLEASE STEP IN OP !!!!

heartyrebel · 22/12/2017 22:55

Wow I didn't think anyone didn't know about Nigerian scammers these days.
If you Google it you will find thousands of identical stories.
I feel sorry for her kids

TammySwansonTwo · 22/12/2017 22:58

Take the Facebook photos and do a google image search for them - show her that they're stolen and no doubt being used for multiple scammers.

Do a search of the number she has and see what that turns up.

How did she send the money, western union?

How awful - I hate these thieving cunts.

angelcat3 · 22/12/2017 23:06

Do a simple google search and show her the results. There are websites dedicated to this sort of thing. These "military guys" always have kids, have all conveniently been widowed and need money to pay for their leave from the army and for plane tickets. The email addresses to send the money to more often than not originate in Africa. I mean, could it be more obvious that it's a scam. Do a reverse image search on google and you'll undoubtedly get some hits. The pics are stolen and a lot of the guys in them don't know their pics are being used to scam folk out of their money. Unfortunately, your friend will believe what she wants to believe because she'll not want to admit to being duped. You need to hit her with hard evidence. She'll never see that money again so it looks like she's ruined xmas for herself and her kids.

Babababababybel23 · 22/12/2017 23:12

Why would you leave yourself so short that you can't even feed your kids properly for a man? Pathetic. Her kids don't deserve it but I have no sympathy for her. She chose to help someone she hardly knew over making sure she could take care of her children. She isn't vulnerable. She is dumb

SilverDoe · 22/12/2017 23:18

Gemini69 I can't imagine there are many people who would be so easily taken in by such a transparent scam in this day and age. Coupled with the fact that that she took out loans to pay for this man and couldn't budget for not only her childrens' Christmas but also their essential expenses, I wouldn't be surprised if it turned out she had additional needs. It seems very odd indeed.

RebootYourEngine · 22/12/2017 23:19

I dont think she will wake up about this scam when he doesnt turn up tomorrow. He will probably wait a few days and then message and say that there was some sort of 'emergency' meaning he couldnt come but will come next week if more money is spent or he will need money to sort out the 'emergency'.

notapizzaeater · 22/12/2017 23:24

Is your friend normally so innocent ? Can you stop the money or was it western union ?

TammySwansonTwo · 22/12/2017 23:26

There will definitely be more requests to come. These people prey on extremely vulnerable and desperate people, they don't even have to try too hard because they're so good at telling their victims what they need to hear, they'll ignore every single red flag going. I knew a guy who was taken in by a Russian woman online - he sent money for her to fly over and then she apparently died in a car accident on the way to the airport. I believe he sent money for the funeral 🙄

Deep down she must know now but is trying to save face. I feel so awful for her children. What utter bastards these guys are.

crazycatgal · 22/12/2017 23:27

So she's given money to a man she hasn't met instead of using it to feed her children?

Gemini69 · 22/12/2017 23:40

I'm really worried about her Kids OP... really worried

laudanum · 22/12/2017 23:41

....

She's being scammed
Ashamedandblamed · 22/12/2017 23:45

Omg what a moron Confused

ILoveDolly · 22/12/2017 23:46

No one legit would ask a woman with five kids for all that money at Christmas. I feel angry on her behalf but also with her for putting some random bloke over her kids Christmas

bretonknickers · 22/12/2017 23:47

5 poor kids waking up on Christmas day to nothing (by the sounds of it), and empty tummies over Christmas because she has been stupid and put a man she has never met over their needs.
Mind-boggling.