Fake Turkeys!

There will always be some people who want to take your walet on a date and not you!  Unfortunately, there are those who are sympathetic, possibly lonely, who are played for their emotions, seduced, and dumped by an internet dating scammer.  If you have met a genuine person in your search for online romance, the subject of money should NOT come up for a very long time. While it is possible the love of your life may not live near you, the reality is that most people who are serious about a relationship live within a reasonable distance. If someone wants to date you, they MUST spend time with you to get to know you.  If someone lives hundreds of miles away, be cautious because it could be a scam.  If they quickly profess how much they adore and love you but have never met you face to face, BEWARE.  How can they love you without really knowing you?  These cunning and mysterious criminals sometimes take a month or two to try and develop a relationship, flatter you, or maybe send a cheap gift or two.  They lurk like spyware, skillfully building trust to make victims fall in love with them.

    The only motive is your money.  DO NOT SEND MONEY!  Whatever the sob story of sick children, health problems, or being stranded in a foreign place without money, it is most likely a lie. The handsome person in the picture you think you have feelings for is quite possibly just a stolen identity.  The same person you have been emailing could very well be part of a large circle of organized internet crime from Russia or Nigeria.  Nigerian scammers often pretend to be foreign specialists working abroad.  They often upload attractive Caucasian photos and say they live in the US but are abroad on business.  A majority of the online cons are female or pretend to be female.  In either case, it’s not long before they hit you up for money. They will be abroad, notably in Africa or other European countries.  They will tell you their employer has paid them with money orders and they cannot cash them, and then they will send them to you asking you to deposit them into your bank account and wire them money via Western Union.  Needless to say, the money orders are no good, and you’re left holding the bag. You will be reimbursing your bank and paying the fees for the faulty transactions.

     How many men have had sexy blonde Russian girls send those pictures of themselves in scantily clad, and provocative, poses?  They are supposedly in another state, but the truth is they are in Russia.  Ninety percent of Russian scams originate in the Republic of Mariel.  There is an extensive criminal organization led by men who have others do the legwork, placing hundreds of profiles every day and conducting correspondence.  Most likely, they work on commission like a telemarketer.  Girls are paid a minimal fee to sit and pose for pictures and pick up money at Western Union. Scams cannot only hurt your finances, but your heart as well.  There are two signs to run when they mention money and Western Union in the same breath. Be suspicious of broken English in emails when the picture is of a girl in a plaid shirt from the Midwest who should be able to speak better than that. Pay attention to inconsistencies in the communications of the person you are developing a rapport with.  There are tell-tale signs that you might just have a total fake turkey on your hands.