Northumbrian woman pays £80k to scammers pretending to be Jason Momoa

[RonaldMcDonaldTrump]

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cgmn7vdpy0wo.amp

I mean, she's brave for speaking out because if I fell for something as ridiculous as this, I'd never utter a word of it to anyone.

Aibu to think there's enough education out there for people to stop being so gullible?

I thought the woman had been scammed thinking it was Brad Pitt?

Honestly it’s madness isn’t it. Why would Hollywood celebrity be dating a random women from NE England via Facebook?! Let alone then asking her for money. Sure at some point between ‘hi I’m a celebrity’ and giving someone £80k you stop

I feel like I should be sympathetic but… Seriously?

That was someone else! Which was plastered all over social media and news sites, so I don't know how people aren't seeing these stories and hearing alarm bells when they engage in similar interactions over Facebook with A list celebrities! Not even some bloke off Hollyoaks...Aquaman himself for crying out loud!

It's surprisingly common to get scammed by people pretending to be celebrities.

Give "Keanu Reeves is Not in Love with You" by Becky Holmes a read/listen! It's pretty funny and actually gives a really interesting insight into the phenomenon

In my home country (Sweden) there was a woman who embezzled money (the equivalent of 1,2 million pounds) from the county that she worked for. She was in a "relationship" with someone that she thought was Mick Jagger, and the person she thought was Mick Jagger needed money.

We can all be scammed given the right circumstances. Sometimes it when people play on our greed, sometimes on our emotional vulnerability, on our desperation to change our circumstances, on our lack of technological knowledge, our empathy with another (made up) human in a (made up) situation, our loneliness, our addictions, our good nature, the list is long and we might be astounded someone fell for somethong we think is ridiculous, but they would probably be astounded by the one we'll fall for, if it happens.

if I fell for something as ridiculous as this, I'd never utter a word of it to anyone

Which is what scammers rely on when they target vulnerable people. How brave of her to tell her story in an effort to help others despite knowing there will be people like you thinking you’re far too clever to ever fall for a scam. You may well not fall for one like this, but scammers are getting better and better. Good luck.

I think it's horrific that these people prey on the naive and vulnerable. There are plenty of people who are vulnerable through loneliness, bereavement or a degree of intellectual disability. Unfortunately, the scammers are very good at seeking out these people and grooming them!