Expert: Marlene - 8/6/2009

Question
What do these online scammers do to scam people? Have you ever been scammed? How did you deal with it?

Answer
Hi Samantha,

Q:  What do these online scammers to do scam people?

A:  The majority of on-line scammers contact a person on an on-line dating site.  They email a bogus photo (usually one they copy off of a modeling agency website) along with a very nice email expressing their desire to "get to know you", "they are looking for their soul-mate", "they just came across your profile and photo and it was love at first sight", etc.  If their email is answered, they will ask you to get on an IM chat.  On-line dating scammers will get serious very quickly, expressing their "undying love" to you, telling you "they can't live without you" and "want to marry you".  After the scammer feels the person has began to trust them and has developed feelings for them, they ask for money.  Usually the scammer will tell you he/she is some sort of Engineer and in a different country on business (usually construction or oil).  Wants to come to meet & marry you; however, needs money and asks you to send it to him/her.  Most male scammers claim to be some sort of Engineer and most female scammers claim to be models, nurses or buyer for either jewelry or clothing.

Q:  Have you ever been scammed?

A:  Yes.  I was approached on an on-line dating site by a scammer.  We talked via emails, telephone and IM's for several months.  He asked me to send him $7500.00 so he could finish an oil deal that he was working on in Nigeria.  Although I was not scammed for money because I refused his request, my heart was already involved at that point.  The feelings of betrayal and self-doubt became overwhelming.  

Q:  How did you deal with it?

A:  I immediately reported all of the specifics to the FBI (there is an on-line form that I found on the Internet).  Since then, I became very active in various support groups to help other victims deal with this unfortunate experience.