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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:

Fishfingersandwichnocheese · 24/12/2017 16:28

Not to mention if she’s this lacking in sense god knows what other dangers and harm she’s exposing the kids to. How can she adequately protect them from harm if she does things like this ?

Gemini69 · 24/12/2017 20:42

has the OP heard from the woman concerned ?

BakerBear · 24/12/2017 20:50

He wont turn up.

Has she nothing for her children to open tomorrow?

MotherofaSurvivor · 24/12/2017 22:49

THIS!!!!!

*To be honest if she is this stupid - stupid enough to give away all her money and then be unable to feed and look after her children then social services should be contacted for their sake.

She’s not able to provide them with appropriate care and his needs sealing with. She’s a disgrace quite frankly.*

daisychain01 · 25/12/2017 05:00

How interesting OP puts something outrageous out there then doesn't return to the thread. How helpful.

misscheery · 25/12/2017 05:36

Did he turn up then???

MorningstarMoon · 25/12/2017 06:15

She did return as PurplePenquin and has stated he didn't turn up. That apparently his leave was cancelled until the new year.

OP she isn't a good mother she was willing to bring a strange man into the house and she can't afford to feed her children. I feel so sorry for those poor kids.

Tanfastic · 25/12/2017 06:15

I think the op said up thread he didn't turn up and made some excuse about leave being cancelled. He's coming in the New Year apparently .

It never ceases to amaze me how many women fall for this shit.

A seemingly intelligent woman in the town I live did something similar and even after the police warned her she was being scammed she still went on to steal thousands of pounds from her employer and sent it to him.

She's now in prison of course.

WellThisIsShit · 27/12/2017 22:08

Oh dear, I wonder what the children’s christmas was like in the end.

Rainbowmother · 27/12/2017 22:29

I've been wondering too

SparklyMagpie · 27/12/2017 23:04

Those poor poor children, absolutely heart breaking and social services should be called

PurplePenguins · 28/12/2017 09:39

Sorry guys had a bit of an emergency boxing day. All sorted and all ok now. Their Christmas wasn't great but it was ok. A group of us rallied round and the children had something to open on Christmas day and some food. I think she is beginning to realise what she did was foolish but still adamant that "if the security risk wasn't heightened, he would be here and I wouldn't be in this mess" she has contacted a food bank and got some food for the next couple of days. The police couldn't do anything really as she has to report him and she won't. We are now backing off as far as Neil is concerned and told her we will be here for her but we will not be lending her money or anything like that. Hopefully soon she will wake up and smell the coffee.

PurplePenguins · 28/12/2017 09:41

We did con tact her social worker too who said she will go and see her in the new year.

Sparklesdontshine · 28/12/2017 09:52

Why does she have a social worker?

Joana1975 · 28/12/2017 09:58

This is so sad and it keeps happening... I would report it to the police but I'm not sure there is much they can do :(

Viviennemary · 28/12/2017 10:00

It's a scam. Why do people fall for this nonsense. Not sure the police would be interested but it's worth a try. I wouldn't go as far as to involve SS but she does sound extremely naïve and irresponsible. But if her children are going without food because of her insane choices then I don't think you can just ignore this.

thegrinchreaper · 28/12/2017 10:57

You're a star OP for salvaging Christmas for those kids.
I felt sympathetic towards your friend in the beginning but to read that she's still deluding herself rather than facing reality is sickening. Contacting the social worker was the right thing. You've done all you can.

JediStoleMyBike · 28/12/2017 11:58

It's such a disgrace that she's wasted this money, left her children without food and gifts for Christmas and is now accessing food banks those kids need help.

Fishfingersandwichnocheese · 28/12/2017 12:04

I’m really glad social services are aware.

Fishfingersandwichnocheese · 28/12/2017 12:05

It’s also disgusting that she’s using food banks intended for the poorest when she’s given her bloody money away.

PurplePenguins · 28/12/2017 20:52

@Sparklesdontshine. She is capable of looking after herself and her kids normally. A few years ago we were involved in a car accident which left her with a brain injury. She has a social worker just to keep an eye on things. She is gullible and tends to believe people.
@fishfingerssandwichnocheese
She hasn't got any money to give away, she has completely maxed out her credit getting loans because he promised to give her money when he came over :(

Gemini69 · 28/12/2017 21:05

Purple

what did she do for Christmas day for her kids ...

movingtowardsthelight · 28/12/2017 22:22

My MIL fell for a scam about 8 years ago. She sent £2500 through Western union bank overseas to a ‘friend’.

When she realised it was a scam she contacted the police fraud department. She managed to get half the amount back from Western union.

All may not be lost, but at least half probably will be.

GladAllOver · 28/12/2017 22:31

This won't be the end of it. He will be back to say he's planning a new visit but needs more money.

Fishfingersandwichnocheese · 28/12/2017 22:53

Christ that’s even worse. So she’s now in huge debt too.

Is the brain injury related to her being a bit gullible at all ? Or is it just kind of who she is ?

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