to think this is not genuine?

[ValerieCupcake]

Tried to do a reverse google search for this. Nothing coming up.

Have you reverse image searched the Facebook photos?

Have you googled : hon idowu raheem
It looks like a government official
I would doubt they would have sent anyone a picture of a medal of a basic football competition

@Moody123

Have you googled : hon idowu raheem It looks like a government official I would doubt they would have sent anyone a picture of a medal of a basic football competition

Yep and all I got was lots of info about Raheem Sterling.

I don't know what you are going to/or can do. Yes I think she's being scammed but even if you come up with proof she won't believe you I bet!

You don't need to know if the medal is fake to know that this is potentially a scam. Alert your vulnerable relative immediately. No good will come if this.

It probably is a scam, yes. Sadly older single women are often targeted by this kind of thing. And it's very hard to convince them that it is a scam I imagine someone has messaged your aunt after she posted on a public Facebook post somewhere and she's subsequently added them as a friend. That's usually how they operate.

Is she a sensible kind of woman? Or likely to get swept away and send money to someone?

Crime prevention officers at various police forces often have info on the common kind of scams - maybe she would take heed of something from them?

Tbh I wonder if the most effective way would be to befriend him yourself and then show her that he's sending you the same romantic guff he's probably sending her!

@godmum56

I don't know what you are going to/or can do. Yes I think she's being scammed but even if you come up with proof she won't believe you I bet!

No she won't. She was widowed about 18 months ago.

There's a raheem idowu on Twitter

The first thing that comes up when I googled 3rd edition football competition was a Nigerian Facebook page and multiple other links to football competitions in Nigeria.

There's an IG account for this person, two pictures on, lots of followers. Only two posts. Nothing to go on.

I don't get why you think this medal is so important.

Looks like a 5 a side or similar type medal. Unless he has made out that its a professional football medal, I don't see the issue.

He could have hobby, playing football and the medal is genuine. And he could be scamming her

Start at the beginning OP, and explain it all, in order.

@Electriq

The first thing that comes up when I googled 3rd edition football competition was a Nigerian Facebook page and multiple other links to football competitions in Nigeria.

I saw that. I think such a thing exists. But that this chancer is using that to worm his way in.

I’m not sure I’m fully following this, but if it’s basically a suspected online dating scam, I’d move the focus away from a football medal. That’s not going to be the “gotcha”.

What else has he said that is easily disputable?

@Thoosa

I’m not sure I’m fully following this, but if it’s basically a suspected online dating scam, I’d move the focus away from a football medal. That’s not going to be the “gotcha”.

What else has he said that is easily disputable?

Not a clue. She doesn't even know that I know. There's been no conversation. I spotted a post on her page showing this medal and congratulating "someone special" and gave his initial. The person liked the post. I looked at his profile. That's it really.

Oh dear. Nightmare. Is this person not very savvy?

One scam I heard of was that the person is befriend, convinced to send photos (nudes/boobs etc) then these are used to blackmail the victim. If you don't pay, they start a Facebook page in the victims name and friend their friends.

I guess all you can do is subtly try and find out how they met and try and impress how important it is to not give out details and send photos. Perhaps approach it with her along the lines of that you want her to let you know how things are go and run things past you if she's not sure? That way you balance being supportive whilst keeping an eye on things. They bank on the person feeling humiliated or avoiding humiliation, so do what you can to not make her feel stupid.

@Thoosa

Oh dear. Nightmare. Is this person not very savvy?

She was widowed and is vulnerable for health reasons. Very fragile. Financially fine. Emotionally extremely vulnerable too.

I would be concerned OP but I don't think the medal is going to be any help. I would look for resources about scams associated with young Nigerian men, information from the police would be ideal so she takes it seriously, and then gently show her and express concern that the FB post may mean she's being targeted. I just think seeing the information in front of her might make more impact than anything you can say and at least it will tell her what danger signs to look out for. Ultimately that's all you can do though unless or until he asks for money, (at which point I would contact the police whether she wanted me to or not I think) equip her with the facts and alert her that this sort of scam is becoming more common.

You are afraid your aunt may become the victim of a Nigerian Romance scamming network on Facebook, like tens of thousands of other women I am guessing. There are lots of documentaries online and information, but if she won't listen to you, what can you do?

How would she be if you sat her down and staged a proper intervention? If that wouldn’t go down well, could you do a not-so-subtle thing of telling her about a documentary or article on love scams?

does she live near enough to you. are you on friendly terms.
go round there maybe with a take-away, and say your friend at work has a neighbour who fell for a terrible scam.
there is a tv programme about it.
put it on and watch it together.
having first researched best content for this purpose.
ask what she thinks. and tell her to warn any of her friends who might be taken in by it. esp romance/investment scams.
discuss how people can get lost in such things when they don't share with their friends/relatives who could help them see what's happening.
then try to keep in touch with her, visit, more often. be a pal.

Can you try to add him on Instagram or Facebook to see what happens? Maybe set up a fake account even? If he starts chatting you up that would be better evidence? Or asking for money come to that. It’s a hard situation to be in.