Faking it — scammers’ tricks to steal your heart and money

I recently found out that I am being scammed. A man from Africa asked me to help his customers hey their purchases to them since they like American made products. I agreed, then recently found our the stuff was obtained illegally. now I have a lot of stolen merchandise that I am sending to the FBI I want to tell this guy how I feel. I need closure. I want him to know that he had hurt a very nice woman. I'm afraid of his potential reach. I'm going to stop communication and tell him that I'm returning the items to the stores they were stolen from. And that he need never contact me again. Please advise

I met someone via BharatMatrimony.com. Its a Indian Dating Site. I met someone who claims to live in LA is a Doctor. His name is Dr. Devraj Balavan. He also has a facebook page. He also asked me to wire him $400 dollars. I only sent $100. He said he was going to Malaysia for a trip. He is still talking to me and I am pushing for a face to face meeting. Usually scammers will not meet in person. I only found a facebook profile, and a phone number linked to California. So I am using extremely caution. I am pushing for this meeting. I reported it to the website but he is still on there.

the best way to avoid scammers all together and stop doing what time set up a security test question 3 to 4 questions that only you know and nobody else to ask. You still sick uestion pecan street and have scammers answer once you feel the eighty's when you get up and have some answer them this correctly if they don't answer that means they're still scam when you get online with friends colleagues family members in order to get online these questions from childhood italy you know when you're growing up. Get together with all your friends all your relatives verify when we get online to chat or talk only we know these answers to these questions and things all of you know from growing up your old neighbor much for you all together. Something scammers don't even know coast so different sheet difference between you and scammers. if they answer them correctly youll sent them 50,000... I played this game scammers for about a year after that they stopped communicating with me all at once I also sent them a picture of a safe full of a lot of money and said to them you answer these questions correctly I'll send you this I never heard from them again its called reverse psychology this is one way to start messing with their heads and I'll never bother you again and this cure the epidemic of scammers infesting our websites and our Internet networks try it.... it should work.

Hi, I had the same experience. Actually I received this kind of email twice but they didn't get anything from me. I both met them in skout.com. The first person is Lieutenant Thomas Moore widow and with daughter under guardian. He was from USA but assigned in Sudan. I forgot much info about him but I remember he is so sweet which this stuffs can surely make me doubt. Okay we never get to the point where he asked me money because after he sent me email of letter format to send to his USA army leave department I get alarmed. I would never give any information especially our address to him. Below is the letter. And after i said No he said goodbye and sound upset that i don't trust him. Well I'm not that desperate in love so sorry for him. LOL. see letter below: Your Name........... Your Address......... Your City, State, Zip Code......... Your Phone Number............ Date............. ***USA ARMY*** United States Leave Department. Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Sudan. Dear sir, MILITARY LEAVE OF ABSENCE LETTER My Name is _____, ***then you mention your job and your position at your job etc**...I humbly request for the leave of absence of my fiancee Lieutenant Thomas Moore, who serves in the Djibouti,Sudan, for an official military assignment and he has been there for a period of 6 months now. I'm Lieutenant Thomas Moore's wife to be, and i'm applying for his leave request for three(3) months based on confidential family issue.. He will perform [active duty] with the (United States Coast Guard) beginning soon. His absence from work for this period of military service is protected by me and the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act, 38 United States Code, Sections 4301-33. USERRA does not require that I provide all this information to you. However, I want to let you know these details regarding his military absence. His last day at work with you before he begin military service will be[____]. He's expected to be returned to work with you on or about[____](again, if you have a date). [During his absence, He can be reached at [give mailing address and telephone number, if is not a security issue and you know this information.] [During my absence, _________, telephone number ______, will know how to reach me.] I WOULD BE HIGHLY OBLIGE IF YOU KINDLY SEND AN INTIMATION OF THIS LETTER 2 DAYS OF RECEIVING IT. Yours Sincerely Signature Name

The 2nd experience I am very cautious. Because in my 1st experience I don't know that he is a scam, it's just I need to end our conversation because he is asking too much information. And my guy friend jokingly told me that maybe the guy behind the picture is from Nigeria.

And so for this 2nd experience I use my head and do some research and that's the reason I bump in to this site because I was searching so hard to know if it's real because the photo being used is very handsome. LOL I can't find the name in the search engine and he is as well using an ordinary email. (Ftc.gov pls be informed that i have emailed the original email to you, just decided to post here so everybody will be aware)

Okay the handsome guy is named Edward Martin. I feel pity of the guy in the photo being used to bait victims. I think he was a victim before who sent photos to the scammer because the scammer will end his email with "send me your current photo, ok?" Below is his email:

1st email I wish to thank you for accepting my friend request. My names is Edward i just came across your profile on (skout.com) and i will like to be your friend despite our distance and age.. i am searching for my soul mate. that i will love and care for. I want to tell you more about myself. I was born on 5th of March 1985. Am single never married and have no kids and am a Christian. My father and Mother has passed away,they are no longer alive He was originated from United State of America,.

I was born and grew up in NY. I am the only son and child of my family. I live here in Poland. from where I am communicating with you and working as a special security in the US ARMY. My late father and Mother was are wonderful and kind people, also they are philanthropists. Furthermore, I am a fun loving man who cares for the need of others. I love traveling and shopping. I like listening to music. On the weekends, I use to go out for fun, going to the sea side having relaxing mind and seeing the nice fresh air from the sea. Love shopping on weekends too and if got chance, I use to travel around. I do cook sometimes as I like cooking, Being happy always makes me feel young everyday. I am so glad for my life and really thank God for all His blessing upon my family.

I would like to tell you that to make a relationship last for ever and be stable we need trust,love,understanding,devotion,and motivation in heart, In my own intention,i promise to be faithful, honest, and most caring to you and be the man you have always dream of, and pray always that God will bless and make our love grow, thank you so much..I hope to hear from you again. With Love Edward

2nd email my heart Thanks for you lovely message, i want you to know that love is always here to make our life full of smiles and happiness, this moment i cherish your interest and care towards our relationship, i hope it will bring the moment of joy,happiness,smiles and best of our moments, i never feel this way before in my life, you seems so interesting and caring, i am so much happy and full of smiles that i met with someone like you... Since i saw your profile i cant stop thinking of you, i don't really know why, but i think i am begin to fall in love with you, not because of much thing, but just because of your sincerity and honesty towards our relationship, i wish us to build a nice and good relationship together that can lead us into marriage and make our life happier and brighter... I hope that this is the relationship we are looking for in a million of years, that can bring happiness and smiles in our life,i will love to know more about your, personality and your family more, so that we can be more concentrate with each other and have a nice relationship together with love and happiness, thanks and take care dear.....please send me more of your current pictures ok With Love Edward

Based on my research, i found this exact messages in a website who is also helping to stop this scam issue.

So it's obviously a scam. Be aware ladies. True love doesn't need to be always sweet and sugar coating. A guy who loves you will find ways to come to you, you don't need to pay for them. Let him make an effort. And besides, God loves you, and will surely give what's best for you. Wait for the best.. And don't settle for less than you deserve. :)

Has anyone actually met a scammer in person? Specifically in Ghana? And are they still in contact with him / her? Has a scammer given anyone his / her real picture?

Been talking to sgt.dillonbernard. I guess that's him. And met him on meet me. Hasn't asked for nothing.

I met this guy in fb sent me friends request. I did accepted him. Then we started chatted for 6 months. His from Uk. He was an engineer profession working as a shipping Roadway Companies in Maschester uk. We chatted twice a days. At the time he was going sailing to Australia for a month. Then, something happened in his ship. He started asked me if i could helped him. I said sure I would helped you. Then, he said let me call the company if they could shipped out my items to your address.I agreed to it. Then, he sent me a copy receipt for the items. He told me that the DPD DELIVERY Company would contacted me cuz, their something I had to pay some local taxes from India Country. So, I refused to pay for it. I asked him he need to get his items back from the company but, at the time it was to late cuz, the company won't returned his items. Anyway let's make this storyline sort. The company is still have the items since May 2015 till now. DPD DELIVERY Company demands more money from me. I sent alot of money to just deliver the items to my doorsteps but, the company hostages his items.DPD delivery company is still emailed me now and then. He is still demands money to enable to shipped out the items.I told the company I can't do it and I have no money to pay any charges they asked from me.The company its a big scammers and a theft. I tried to let my ex husband is a police officer and the FBI involved my case but again it is so hard for them to chase the case cuz, it's international scams. Now im dealing with my losses. But, all I can do just pray to (God)I learned my lesson and mistakes not to get involved of any men or trust any stranger that you never know face to face. That's was my experience on dating the Internet..Please advice me what should I do to this company..

Gentlemen: ETS Financial phone 800-797-5698 and NCO Financial phone 866-341-8884 are both fraudulent or fake telephone collection services which falsely state that they are authorized to collect United Parcel Service or UPS shipping bills. I am a regular UPS customer. Over the last several years, I have received many 800 or 866 or other similar calls at my office from people who claim to represent ETS Financial or NCO Financial. Each call is a bill collection call, made to collect payment by credit card for an alleged past-due balance for UPS shipping or delivery services. I have written this so that others who search the web for these names or numbers will find this and realize that these calls are fraudulent or fake. Sincerely yours, Caleb B

I am a linguist and can usually spot a fake profile in the following way. Most scammers never capitalize the letter "I". They will use "i" in almost everything they say. If they ever call you their Queen, it's a scammer. If they are using some crazy romantic language, copy a few lines of it and paste it into Google - it will show you where they got it from. If they want money or any kind of material help for any reason, it's a scammer. Please don't get involved with them!

What was his name? Was he a widow with a daughter?