Challenging my aunt this evening

[ValerieCupcake]

and I am terrified. I posted on AIBU about this last week. Full thread is here.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/4524246-to-think-this-is-not-genuine?pg=9

Basically she is in touch with a Nigerian chap in his 20s. If that is who he is. She's 63. She's got a premium rate phone number from him to contact her on. I found this all out accidentally. She doesnt know I know about it.

I've been in touch with the guy myself. I 'liked' a couple of his pictures to kind of smoke him out. Then I was sent PMs from him. I've had tons of friend requests since from Nigerians.

I've posted in Relationships because it is more about my relationship with her. I am 100% this is a scam.

I am looking for support really. Terrified of bringing it up with her.

Several years ago now, I was on a dating site. A very handsome man messaged me, telling me how beautiful he thought I was - the typical BS. I didn’t think much about it, but his crapola got thicker & thicker — and then he told me his company was sending him to Rome. It didn’t sit right with me.
He sent me a photo of himself in Rome, that looked similar to his profile photo, but not exactly like his profile photo.
I google-reversed the “Rome” photo, not really knowing what to expect, and lo and behold, the background building turned out to be a landmark in Romania or somewhere — not Rome!!!
So I caught him lying red-handed and he couldn’t explain.
Be on the lookout for photos like that, that you can investigate. And good luck.

@ValerieCupcake I have followed both your threads, you are a fantastic niece. I am so sorry for the situation your aunt is in. It’s really scary how these scammers hook people. I hope you are able to get her to see the truth before it’s too late.

Well done for looking out for your aunt.

I’d contact her back branch now. They absolutely will flag her account, and by the time you think it’s needed it might be too late.

Hi OP - not sure if you've seen this information about what to if someone is a victim of a romance scam.... it's really common and on the rise sadly and your aunty sounds like someone who would be really vulnerable to these bastards www.actionfraud.police.uk/a-z-of-fraud/dating-fraud Perhaps if you show her this or even post it on your social media it will help drive the message home. All you can do is alert people and just keep repeating to her it's a scam... Over and over until it sinks in

OP-now on bbc one Scam Interceptors, talking just about this.

Thank you for all your comments and help. I am at my wits' end, but feel I have to be very harsh with her now. Her next door neighbour, a builder, has offered to replace her internal doors. She's told him that she's talking to Nigerians for giggles and fun and no intention of stopping it.

This is why she lied to me about OMG. She knows what she is doing. I don't think now she will send money. I do however worry about her frame of mind to do this.

God knows how I start to discuss this with her. I've not seen her for days as I've been ill.

Continuing this opens up her account and friends to be scammed too. I genuinely don't know how to play it now. Other than be very very angry.

Do you believe her? Or is she just saying this to get you off her back?

I have been watching the BBC series on love scams.
The latest trick they use to avoid detection is to flip the photos they use ( mirror image) so they are not traceable.
Try using a mirror image of any photos he has sent her when you use the photo search function.

That love or money is shocking. I can't believe what people fall for.