She's being scammed

[RAINBOW]

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?

Yep... be prepared to help fund your friend's Christmas. Sure as shit she'll play the victim card, even though she was the stupid one... how can you amase such huge savings living in Benefits? And 3000€ to be spent on Christmas? Jesus.

Silly silly silly woman.

Police can't do a thing. She's emotionally hooked. Maybe google his email address, reverse photo search etc and see if she comes round. It's so sad but these people are expert at conning people and pic on those who are gullible.

www.romancescams.org

Show her this website and contact the police. I'm not sure there's a lot that can be done though.

Just as an aside - adult social care would only get involved if she was to be considered to have care & support needs and was less able to protect herself as a result of these eg. A learning disability, mental health condition, other disability or long term health condition (though anything purely physical I can't see how that would make her less able to protect herself from this sort of scam).

It's really sad and frustrating.

I have googled his picture but only got his fake profile. I was hoping to find the profile he has stolen the photos and videos from.

@pizzaeater yes she is always this innocent. Without being cruel, because she is an amazing woman and friend with a heart of gold, she was always in the lower ability groups at school. She 100% believes this guy is bringing her money today and believes everything he says. I know he will not turn up today at 5pm, and God only knows how she is going to pay back all the loans she has got to pay him. I don't know how she paid him but think it was western union. Would the police be interested?

@fatso1978
She didn't have savings, she took out loans

Have you done a reverse image search?

Have you shown her all the news stories of scams exactly like this happening to other women??

And she's responsible for children?? Since when has being gullible and irresponsible passed as being vulnerable.

When you've got mouths to feed you don't go giving away lumps of cash on a loan to internet randoms.

If she hasn't learned that much as an adult, then I'm really sorry for those children.

Social Services will have gifts people will have handed in for vulnerable kids.. can you contact them OP...

laudanum I've got slightly more hair than that bloke of yours but I can tell you, I'm striking a very similar pose right now....

If he needed all that money to pay for leave and flights etc then precisely how did she think he was going to be able to pull 6K out of his arse to hand to her when he arrives!! These scammers always promise at least double what they are asking you for in order to hook you in. facepalm

So when is he due to arrive? Can you be on hand for his no-show?

He's due at 5pm.

@maramladeismyjam
Is a reverse search the same as a Google by image?

Stupid woman. Is she meeting him at the airport ?

A friend of mine paid £700 for some scammer to cast a spell! You can't believe how stupid people are.

Bloody hell! If this is real, she's responsible for 5 children! Let alone the scam,she's prepared to bring a man she doesn't even know to hers for Xmas around her children

She has a screw loose

Obviously he won't be turning up but as far as she's concerned she's happy to do this

Good point. How can she bring a random man over? Can you call social services or something? If this is real I couldn't carry on the friendship and would be too concerned for the children.

@thetroutofnocraic
I have no idea. We have tried telling her that.

PurplePenguins Has he text her saying he's about to get plane or any other contact today?

I feel so sorry for her...it really is quite easy to get taken in if you are lonely. It's so sad, but this is why scores of (mainly older, divorced) women get conned like this every year. Flattery can get you everywhere.

I work with asylum seekers, recently one of my ladies (lonely, vulnerable single mum in a country not her own) was duped into sex with an English man, said he loved her, wanted to marry her...she got pregnant and now he's un-contactable. Got what he wanted and buggered off. She believed him because "English people are good and kind."

Sparkly I had that same thought.

It's real. She sent me a bit of her chat with him.