to think this is not genuine?

[ValerieCupcake]

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

@ValerieCupcake

Update on this. I looked around the guy's Facebook and liked a couple of his pictures. He immediately sent me messages via Messenger. I played along for a bit. This is the dialogue.

Me: I see that you like football?
Him: Yes baby
How are you feeling
Me: Very sunny today, what about you?
Do you play football?
I support Liverpool.
Him: Yes baby
Let chat on WhatsApp drop your number

This is what he will have said to my Aunt Susan. And she has fallen for it.

There is no picture of the medal on his Facebook. He will have sent it to her through Whatsapp. I bet she has given him her number.

I've also had three friend requests from Nigerian sounding names. I will have to block these.

Since this yesterday, I've had over 30 friend requests. All from suspicious looking Facebook pages. I've little doubt that this person communicating with my aunt is part of a scam circus.

I have received one message from this entity "Am in Nigeria baby".

Another scammer has posted on her wall "would like to get to know you better, please send me a friend request". I did a reverse image search & this came up.

www.scamhatersunited.com/2021/05/patrick-william-yet-another-set-of.html

The first picture on the link. Patrick William. Now calling himself Greg Miller. But the URL is a name called Mary Nyaaba.

I'm planning to see her tomorrow and take it from there.

@SaySomethingMan

If a 60+ year old pursues a relationship with a 20year old, I can’t feel sorry for them tbh. They must know that the 20yr old must be in a pretty desperate situation to consider a relationship with them. They’re also taking advantage so I’m afraid I can’t feel sorry for them getting scammed.

I don't think you understand what is going on here.

@ValerieCupcake

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

That looks entirely genuine to me.

@LauraNicolaides RTFT. Things have moved on somewhat. That isn't the point.

@DeedlessIndeed

This sounds like a classic romance scam. They are scarily common.

Banks actually can do a fair bit if they are concerned and think that someone is falling for a romance scam. They can get the Police to speak to who they believe is the victim, or even ask the victim to come into the bank before a transaction is made.

www.tsb.co.uk/news-releases/tsb-reveals-alarming-details-of-romance-fraud/
You could flag it with your Aunt's bank as a last resort, if you think she could be sending money? Ultimately she will still be able to transfer money if she wants to, but 3rd party intervention can be really useful at breaking the illusion.

My friend works in the vulnerable customer team at HSBC. She has similar stories of vulnerable people sending their life savings to scammers. Definitely flag it with her bank if you can. They can refuse to send transfers and give her advice. They may also refund any money she has already sent, if there were red flags which they should have identified.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/relationships/4527346-Challenging-my-aunt-this-evening?pg=2

I started a separate post in Relationships. I thought the key thing was my relationship with my aunt. I spoke to her tonight on the phone. She has removed the picture from her FB. She said it is just a bit of fun and she is not sending money. I will continue to check in with her though. It's not right.

@SaySomethingMan yep, that's what I said. Totally agree.

[quote cherrysthename]@SaySomethingMan yep, that's what I said. Totally agree.[/quote]
The ridiculous post that you are referring to (that I have reported) suggests my 63 year old aunt is 'taking advantage' of a 20 something Nigerian scammer. Really? The only 'advantage' she is taking is that she gets 'attention'.

If he is being taken advantage of by anyone, it will be whoever he is in a gang with.

She has depression and anxiety and as a result doesn't make good choices.

Loads of people have depression and anxiety and would never consider going after someone young enough to be their son, with all the power imbalance and exploitation that brings. Not only does depression and anxiety not necessarily lead to bad choices, it doesn't stop a person from making the logical connection between what both parties are getting out of such a set-up. One= possibility of money, the other= attention and possibly sexual gratification from someone much younger, with much less life experience and economically disadvantaged. Report away.

Loads of people have depression and anxiety and would never consider going after someone young enough to be their son, with all the power imbalance and exploitation that brings.

OP's relative isn't going after the person. The whole set up - including the person responding to OP with practically the same spiel. The has more scam hallmarks than the Crown Jewels.

@iklboo

Loads of people have depression and anxiety and would never consider going after someone young enough to be their son, with all the power imbalance and exploitation that brings.

OP's relative isn't going after the person. The whole set up - including the person responding to OP with practically the same spiel. The has more scam hallmarks than the Crown Jewels.

There is another one in the mix now. A profile pretending to be from Arizona. The photos stolen from a conservation manager from Colorado. I've actually reported them to the police.

She doesn't go after anyone. She does respond to messages because she thinks they are real people and is sad and lonely.

It turns out she is actually playing games with them. She told her neighbour who told me. She says she plays along until they ask for money and then tells them to do one. I don't know how to handle it from here now.

I bet that's a relief OP! Good on her.

Given this update, it sounds like she is an autonomous adult who is quite capable of playing along and choosing to tell them to do one if they ask for money.

I would step back now, she doesn't sound as vulnerable as you originally stated.

So long as that’s true, that must be a huge relief

I guess you don't need to handle anything now. It is good that you were looking out for her initially, but now you know she is not being taken in, you don't need to worry. Guess she's more familiar with things than you thought she would be! I'm nearly 70 and I wouldn't be taken in either - and if I was a bit bored/lonely like you say she is I might just decide to string them along too!!

I've not asked her anything about it recently. But I am keeping an eagle eye out for anything cracking off that doesn't seem right.