Are these red flags or am I being OTT?

[ThomasShelbysfagend]

A relative of mine.
late 40’s vulnerable, trusting, does not have a bad bone so sees the good in everyone.
Has a chronic health condition, has always been an extremely hard worker.
A grown up child and grandchildren. Grown up child is also very vulnerable, ADHD, ASD, extremely young parent with recent breakdown of relationship.
Both happy in council property on benefits quietly getting on with life very happy with their lot.

Fast forward and older relative has met someone on line. (Around 3 months ago)
Apparently extremely wealthy, has properties and has moved both into separate properties so each has given up their council properties.

No social media presence at all, one FB page either “charity raising posts” around 4 of these. Zero raised and each set up around 5 months ago.

Other then this, nothing, no history, no postings, nothing.

I asked the question re legal protection because obviously (to me) if this goes tits up they could end up homeless.

None of them are now talking to me because I asked this question, I’m blocked, but that’s ok.

It’s screaming red flags to me but by asking the question, I am taking away from the joy of it apparently.
I won’t know how it plays out in the future as I have no contact with any of them now.

would this concern you and how would you have approached this differently?

To be clear, new partner is extremely wealthy but has no traceable history at all. Only recent as if “staged” IYSWIM?

I would say anyone would be daft to give up a council tenancy. Or move in with a partner v quickly. Or live in someone else's property without a legal agreement. So they are triply stupid. But for it to be a scam, something has to be in it for the scammer.

If it’s too good to be true, then it usually is! I guess there’s a huge element of love bombing going in for them to meet and move within three months.

Not really sure what legal protection you were referring to (money?) but you’re right to be concerned. Do they think it’s ’happy ever after’ and/ or they’ll easily get another council house if it all goes wrong?

I guess if they’ve had a difficult time, they’re flattered by the attention and apparent good fortune. You do have to ask, though, what the rich person sees in a council tennant they met online (sorry if that sounds snobbish)? Incidently, how did they meet?

I did think the same re what’s in it for the new partner and maybe they are (like me) and just don’t do social media.

There is a wedding on the horizon so it looks serious.
There is legal aspect is Renan agreement maybe for the grown up daughter and her tiny children, but they are saying she has been “given” the property. No legal representation for my relatives as they simply can’t afford it. So they are not protected I believe.

It truly truly is absolutely none of my business and I only asked the question out of concern.
It has backfired totally.

You’ve done nothing wrong and hopefully it makes them more aware of their precarious situation.

Is it a visa scammer? Are they marrying your relative for a UK visa? Just a thought.

That's strange. There could be some criminal intent involved too, sex trafficking, drugs, storing stolen good, etc

No visa requirements, both British born & bred.

Its love bombing absolutely, lots of extravagant spending, huge wedding, family very well catered for, grand honeymoon planned. Properties and businesses purchased after moving across the country.

But zero on line history. Nothing when searching the name, apart from the 2 recent FB posts of raising money for 2 charities with zero raised. There’s a handful of friends 6 or 7 on there too but no mention of the person in any of their postings or profiles. It’s like they have just suddenly appeared.

It feels very “staged”.

Are they going under their own names or could they be using fake names? (Farfetched?)

Can you look up the electoral roll? Or last census?

Can you Google this apparent scam to see if there’s any other similar situations listed?

It does all seem very strange.

Have they met this person in the flesh? Surely they must have if they’ve moved properties and are planning a wedding.

Yes they pretty much moved into the “mansion” bought by wealthy mystery person within weeks.

Thought about Claire’s law but you need to put a postcode and I don’t know that.

I don’t understand the concern about the lack of social media presence. You can search the internet all day and never find any reference anywhere to my husband, and the only search results for me are a couple of out of date work references. I do have a Facebook account but never post on it. I know lots of other people who don’t use social media.

Same here, I have nothing at all on SM which is why I mentioned this further up thread.
I acknowledged that they might be like me with no interest in engaging with any form of SM…

However, there is a small amount seemingly put up around 5 months ago, there is Pinterest, FB and insta. That said, as I am not a member of any of them maybe I just don’t have access to their postings??

Look in rightmove for a postcode if is sold recently? ?

I don’t have any addresses at all.