Not to pay for my dad's losses?

[DaughterLaFontaine]

NC, as this is potentially outing:

My father and I have not been close since my parents got divorced (I was around 12). I do know he loves me on some level - but he's a grand master in being hurtful and dismissive above all.

Some years, he will remember my birthday or call on Christmas. Most, he won't.

So imagine my surprise when he rings out of the blue. I assumed some relative must have died or something!

As it turns out, no! Dad has always been into new-age woowoo stuff and conspiracy theories - turns out the latest and greatest one, something or other all banking is about to collapse, was, in fact a crypto scam.

My dad is in his 60s and about to retire. He will now do so without any savings. And because I'm a high-earner he was hoping his losses of around 50k might be affordable for me to cover ...

What I HAVE offered: you retain my personal solicitor and we try to see if there's any chance of success if you sue. I pay any legal fees upfront but want my money back if you do win.

What I have said I wouldn't do: give 50k to my father so he has some savings. Let the scammers keep his original money.

I feel like a horrible human being for saying no to a father who wouldn't even pay child support for me! But: this is not his first major loss. If I do, he'll just think he has a full guarantee from the "Bank of Daughter" and may lose it all again.

AIBU not to give him the money?

I've lost my money to stupidity, I'll just call my child and ask them for £50k of their hard earned money.
He sounds vile.

YANBU at all Op - he's a disgrace to behave as he has done and then ask you for £50k! Stay strong and continue to say no!

Oh God no!

I wouldn’t even give it to my parents even if we did get on and they were nice people and consistently in my life (which yours isn’t). What I WOULD do for good parents is of course do things like hosting them, taking them out for meals or days out and paying, maybe getting them weekends away or paying for things they need for birthdays and Christmasses.. so their life would be enjoyable despite the low income / lack of savings. But as your father isn’t in your life, this doesn’t apply.

Your (not so dear) dad needs a) to report this to the police and b) to his bank.

There is a very faint possibility that if the bank didn't provide sufficient warnings before he transferred the money, then he might be able to reclaim some of it from them.

Also, as others have pointed out, if the scammers do try to charge him for anything else, that might give the police and/or the bank a biscuit crumb trail to follow to find them.

Above all, do not give your dad any money.

No I wouldn’t give him a penny.
With all due respect he did not care a damn about you. What if your mother had refused to support you too? You could have ended up on the streets, drugged, raped, in the care system.
Hell you are very forgiving towards someone who does not care for you. I don’t believe in the afterlife so it’s a no from me.

What a bloody idiot. Well done for both recognising it and for growing up as such a smart, competent person in spite of his shitty attitude.