In 2007, Lawal Adekunle Nurudee, a Nigerian, scammed an Australian woman a total of $47,000 in cash. He had replied to her personal ad and claimed to be a British engineer named Benson Lawson working in Nigeria. He told her his wife and child had been killed in a car accident and that he needed money to pay for his medical treatment. His cleverly veiled deceit was soon uncovered and he was ordered to pay her.
Millions of lonely hearts are using the Internet to look for love. Problem is, scammers are also using the web but for a sinister purpose. Many online scammers or swindlers are from Russia, the Philippines, and Nigeria, although practically anyone with a computer can be a romance scammer.
How can you tell if the gorgeous guy or gal you met on the Internet is a scammer? Asking you for money is the number one telltale sign. They first try to string you along by professing undying love for you and telling you about their numerous misfortunes. Watch out for the following red flags:
* The members of their family were killed in an accident or were needing prompt medical treatment.
* They were stranded in a foreign land and can't afford to go back to their own country.
* They would like to meet you but can't afford the plane fare.
* They were abducted or robbed or have a serious disease that could prove fatal unless immediate treatment is received.
* They are Caucasian males working as consultants or engineers in Africa.
* They tell you how much they love you, although you have just met online.
When dealing with suspicious personalities on the Internet/dating websites, a little skepticism goes a long way. The anonymity of the Internet has made it possible for virtually anyone to assume a different identity. That photo he or she is using on an online dating site could just be a picture of a local celebrity. Never send money! If he or she wants to know your bank or credit card details, that's an obvious sign that the person is out to scam you.
With many victims of romance scams coming forward to tell their story, it's hard to believe that some people are still falling into the scammers' trap. The stranded-in-Africa plot has been going on for years and seems too wild to be taken at face value, and yet people are still being victimized.
To avoid becoming a victim, make it a point to check on the person's background first before you waste a lot of time giving him or her the time of day! Run a search on Google and check if the person has a Facebook or LinkedIn account. Pay special attention to photos as some of these may just be from Google Images. Overall, if something doesn't add up, that's a bad sign.
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