Police warn Edmonton women about dating scam

etownboarder · 17-02-2009, 10:43 AM

Police warn Edmonton women about dating scam
edmontonjournal.comFebruary 17, 2009 9:02 AM

EDMONTON - Edmonton police issued a warning Tuesday about a scam on online dating websites that has cost local victims about $275,000 over the past three months.

The fraudsters pose online as successful American businessmen who run into trouble while travelling in Nigeria or the United Kingdom, the Edmonton Police Service said in a release.

"The unsuspecting victims are convinced by the so-called caring and compassionate men to give them money," police said. "They tell their victims they need money to be wired to them so they can safely get back to the USA."

The police are set to release more information this afternoon.
© Copyright (c) The Edmonton Journal

Story Found At: http://www.edmontonjournal.com/Life/...070/story.html

etownboarder · 17-02-2009, 10:44 AM

Apparently there are thousands of Edmontonians (in this case women) who do not watch the news, read newspapers or magazines, etc etc... When the words "Nigeria" and "send MONEY" are involved, it's a scam... a very obvious scam. DUH???

Susan@eTalk · 17-02-2009, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by etownboarder

Apparently there are thousands of Edmontonians (in this case women) who do not watch the news, read newspapers or magazines, etc etc... When the words "Nigeria" and "send MONEY" are involved, it's a scam... a very obvious scam. DUH???

I agree, you just cannot legislate for stupidity. The signs were obvious.

RichardS · 17-02-2009, 11:21 AM

sigh. Nigeria notwithstanding...sending $$$ to someone you don't know because they need to get home...wow...if that isn't a warning sign...

Barry N · 17-02-2009, 11:34 AM

I wouldn't even send money to E.T. if he wanted to go home.

Susan@eTalk · 17-02-2009, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barry N

I wouldn't even send money to E.T. if he wanted to go home.

Chmilz · 17-02-2009, 12:03 PM

My mom once said, "You can't help the stupid."

Case in point, those that give their money away over the internet to complete strangers.

chupa · 17-02-2009, 12:06 PM

^There is also a new scam that has surfaced out of the Dominican republic...

A number calls you from there but no one is on the phone...If you call it back it somehow gathers your telephones information and starts charging third party calls to your number.

The good news is shaw is not charging victims for this but Telus has been from what I gather...

So if you see a 809 area code dont answer the phone unless you have family or friends on vacation...

nobleea · 17-02-2009, 01:34 PM

that's not quite how the 809 scam works:

http://www.scambusters.org/809Scam.html

you can answer the phone just fine. just don't call an 809 number for no reason.

North Guy66 · 17-02-2009, 01:52 PM

Hilarious!

Desperate women think they hit the jackpot by hooking up with a successful American businessman. So don't they find it strange a successful businessman is begging for money from a casual acquaintance to fly back to Nigeria?

Sonic Death Monkey · 17-02-2009, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by etownboarder

Apparently there are thousands of Edmontonians (in this case women) who do not watch the news, read newspapers or magazines, etc etc... When the words "Nigeria" and "send MONEY" are involved, it's a scam... a very obvious scam. DUH???

Are there really that many gold-diggers in this city?

North Guy66 · 17-02-2009, 06:51 PM

One of the victims was interviewed on CBC News at Six. Her identity was concealed but she is a recently divorced 45-50 year old woman. At the end of the interview the woman said she still wants to contact the scammer because she wants to believe the romance is still true. I think she needs help.

Also, why is this a crime?

The victims were lied to about their love interest's status and wealth. They shelled out a fair amount of money to their lover only to get nothing in return. Sounds like any Saturday night in an Edmonton bar to me.

raz0469 · 18-02-2009, 12:47 PM

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/fraud

It's pretty obviously fraud. I don't really feel much sympathy for the women, more pity I guess. As the article mentions, she was "addicted to affection." She's got some serious issues with loneliness to be tricked in this way. She says she was in love with the man, despite never having met him. I'm all for internet dating and such, but only as a means of initially meeting someone. You can't possibly be in love with someone you've never physically been in the same room with.

RTA · 18-02-2009, 12:54 PM

^ I wouldn't say that, but it's certainly not something that forms over just a few online conversations, but can form over the course of knowing someone online over a few years.

LindseyT · 18-02-2009, 12:58 PM

People who fall for stuff like this deserve to get taken to the cleaners. Getting suckered happens, but falling for a scam involving Nigeria...

North Guy66 · 18-02-2009, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raz0469

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/fraud

It's pretty obviously fraud. I don't really feel much sympathy for the women, more pity I guess. As the article mentions, she was "addicted to affection." She's got some serious issues with loneliness to be tricked in this way. She says she was in love with the man, despite never having met him. I'm all for internet dating and such, but only as a means of initially meeting someone. You can't possibly be in love with someone you've never physically been in the same room with.

Sure, she was a victim of fraud. But it is not criminal fraud.

As raz0469 mentioned, there has been stories of people knowing each other online for years without knowing what they look like. Eventually the love blossoms then there is phone contact and then romance. So yes, you can be in love with someone who've never been in the same room with you. Just don't be stupid and send $3000 to Nigeria because your lover needs to pay for his mother's funeral.

If I was a friend or relative of the woman in yesterday's news, I'll tell her to get professional help.

danimalrex · 18-02-2009, 01:31 PM

Keep in mind that a large percentage of internet users are no where near as 'internet-savvy" as your current peers in this forum are likely to be. I can think of countless cases where people have given castoff "obsolete" computers to friends or family and turned them loose on the internet without any education as to its dangers.

It's actually pretty disappointing that there are people out there that are that willing to betray someones trust to this extent. The people caught up in this have learned a valuable lesson, and I'm sure that in many cases, they have lost alot more than just thier money.

24karat · 18-02-2009, 07:12 PM

I know the woman who was interviewed on TV yesterday. I, along with a couple of her friends were warning her for at least three months that she was falling for a scammer.

She met this guy on the internet, and never met him in person. He claimed to be an antique dealer who sells items on ebay. He was in Africa on business, but was mugged and had his
wallet stolen. His son who was with him slipped on wet tile alongside a swimming pool and broke his arm. The perp needed money, because he had no way of paying for medical
assistance in Africa. Later, the son died and new expenses arose, either to hold a funeral or
fly the body home to the USA.

She kept referring to the creep as "my boyfriend".

We warned her over and over, as strongly as we could that this was a scam.

Obviously she didn't follow our warnings and advice. She sent him at least $25,000.
although we're not certain exactly how much she sent.

What do you say to someone like that? "Told you!"

Unbelievable!!

Sonic Death Monkey · 18-02-2009, 07:20 PM

If you ask me and many others, the internet dating thing has jumped the shark anyway. And this is coming from someone who used to surf lavalife religiously until a few years ago.

raz0469 · 18-02-2009, 08:46 PM

I've met several people through Plentyoffish, and they've all been normal, cool girls. Then again, some of the stories they told me about other guys they met were pretty amusing, but only from my perspective.

17-02-2009, 10:43 AM	#1
etownboarder Addicted to C2E Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Old Strathcona	Police warn Edmonton women about dating scam Police warn Edmonton women about dating scam edmontonjournal.comFebruary 17, 2009 9:02 AM EDMONTON - Edmonton police issued a warning Tuesday about a scam on online dating websites that has cost local victims about $275,000 over the past three months. The fraudsters pose online as successful American businessmen who run into trouble while travelling in Nigeria or the United Kingdom, the Edmonton Police Service said in a release. "The unsuspecting victims are convinced by the so-called caring and compassionate men to give them money," police said. "They tell their victims they need money to be wired to them so they can safely get back to the USA." The police are set to release more information this afternoon. © Copyright (c) The Edmonton Journal Story Found At: http://www.edmontonjournal.com/Life/...070/story.html

17-02-2009, 11:21 AM	#4
RichardS C2E Junkie * Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Edmonton	sigh. Nigeria notwithstanding...sending $$$ to someone you don't know because they need to get home...wow...if that isn't a warning sign... __________________ Just like the fine line between bravery and stupidity, one exists between visionary and dreamer, progressive and fantasy, or passionate and insane.

17-02-2009, 11:34 AM	#5
Barry N Addicted to C2E Join Date: May 2006 Location: Where the sun keeps shining thru the pouring rain.	I wouldn't even send money to E.T. if he wanted to go home. __________________ Due to budget cutbacks,the light at the end of the tunnel has been switched off.

17-02-2009, 01:52 PM	#10
North Guy66 Addicted to C2E Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Bonnie Doon	Hilarious! Desperate women think they hit the jackpot by hooking up with a successful American businessman. So don't they find it strange a successful businessman is begging for money from a casual acquaintance to fly back to Nigeria? Last edited by North Guy66; 17-02-2009 at 05:01 PM..

18-02-2009, 12:54 PM	#14
RTA Addicted to C2E Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Holyrood	^ I wouldn't say that, but it's certainly not something that forms over just a few online conversations, but can form over the course of knowing someone online over a few years. __________________ Strathcona City Separatist

17-02-2009, 10:44 AM	#2
etownboarder Addicted to C2E Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Old Strathcona	Apparently there are thousands of Edmontonians (in this case women) who do not watch the news, read newspapers or magazines, etc etc... When the words "Nigeria" and "send MONEY" are involved, it's a scam... a very obvious scam. DUH???

17-02-2009, 12:03 PM	#7
Chmilz Addicted to C2E Join Date: Jan 2009	My mom once said, "You can't help the stupid." Case in point, those that give their money away over the internet to complete strangers.

17-02-2009, 12:06 PM	#8
chupa Addicted to C2E Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Century Park.	^There is also a new scam that has surfaced out of the Dominican republic... A number calls you from there but no one is on the phone...If you call it back it somehow gathers your telephones information and starts charging third party calls to your number. The good news is shaw is not charging victims for this but Telus has been from what I gather... So if you see a 809 area code dont answer the phone unless you have family or friends on vacation...

17-02-2009, 01:34 PM	#9
nobleea Addicted to C2E Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Edmonton	that's not quite how the 809 scam works: http://www.scambusters.org/809Scam.html you can answer the phone just fine. just don't call an 809 number for no reason.

17-02-2009, 06:51 PM	#12
North Guy66 Addicted to C2E Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Bonnie Doon	One of the victims was interviewed on CBC News at Six. Her identity was concealed but she is a recently divorced 45-50 year old woman. At the end of the interview the woman said she still wants to contact the scammer because she wants to believe the romance is still true. I think she needs help. Also, why is this a crime? The victims were lied to about their love interest's status and wealth. They shelled out a fair amount of money to their lover only to get nothing in return. Sounds like any Saturday night in an Edmonton bar to me.

18-02-2009, 12:47 PM	#13
raz0469 Addicted to C2E Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Edmonton	http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/fraud It's pretty obviously fraud. I don't really feel much sympathy for the women, more pity I guess. As the article mentions, she was "addicted to affection." She's got some serious issues with loneliness to be tricked in this way. She says she was in love with the man, despite never having met him. I'm all for internet dating and such, but only as a means of initially meeting someone. You can't possibly be in love with someone you've never physically been in the same room with.

18-02-2009, 12:58 PM	#15
LindseyT Addicted to C2E Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: City Of Champions	People who fall for stuff like this deserve to get taken to the cleaners. Getting suckered happens, but falling for a scam involving Nigeria... __________________ "the best social program is a job"

18-02-2009, 01:31 PM	#17
danimalrex Addicted to C2E Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Edmonton, Ab	Keep in mind that a large percentage of internet users are no where near as 'internet-savvy" as your current peers in this forum are likely to be. I can think of countless cases where people have given castoff "obsolete" computers to friends or family and turned them loose on the internet without any education as to its dangers. It's actually pretty disappointing that there are people out there that are that willing to betray someones trust to this extent. The people caught up in this have learned a valuable lesson, and I'm sure that in many cases, they have lost alot more than just thier money.

18-02-2009, 07:12 PM	#18
24karat Addicted to C2E Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Edmonton - Blue Quill	I know the woman who was interviewed on TV yesterday. I, along with a couple of her friends were warning her for at least three months that she was falling for a scammer. She met this guy on the internet, and never met him in person. He claimed to be an antique dealer who sells items on ebay. He was in Africa on business, but was mugged and had his wallet stolen. His son who was with him slipped on wet tile alongside a swimming pool and broke his arm. The perp needed money, because he had no way of paying for medical assistance in Africa. Later, the son died and new expenses arose, either to hold a funeral or fly the body home to the USA. She kept referring to the creep as "my boyfriend". We warned her over and over, as strongly as we could that this was a scam. Obviously she didn't follow our warnings and advice. She sent him at least $25,000. although we're not certain exactly how much she sent. What do you say to someone like that? "Told you!" Unbelievable!! __________________ Fly Edmonton first. Support YEG

18-02-2009, 07:20 PM	#19
Sonic Death Monkey Addicted to C2E Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Downtown	If you ask me and many others, the internet dating thing has jumped the shark anyway. And this is coming from someone who used to surf lavalife religiously until a few years ago. __________________ “You have to dream big. If we want to be a little city, we dream small. If we want to be a big city, we dream big, and this is a big idea.” - Mayor Stephen Mandel, 02/22/2012

18-02-2009, 08:46 PM	#20
raz0469 Addicted to C2E Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Edmonton	I've met several people through Plentyoffish, and they've all been normal, cool girls. Then again, some of the stories they told me about other guys they met were pretty amusing, but only from my perspective.