Did i just fall for an online scam...

[gmh1013]

I feel like an idiot but since my wife died 18 months ago I have done zero really. Everybody was telling me i need to get out of the house maybe sign up for an online dating site for seniors etc. back in Feb I signed up with one and wrote out a profile that would scare off just about anybody...I put down i was semi disabled etc.....used a cane. I also put down I was a widower and my wife died. I went for months and i would get a smiley face and somebody sent me a short note which i replied in a few lines but never heard back.
About 4 weeks ago i get a short sum of this really good looking blonde named Susan who was 59 years old. said she was from N.Z. went to school in Sydney AU and was a geologist. OK we exchnged emails for a few weeks and all seemd to be going good. She said she moved from Florida to Lake Charles 2 years ago after a hurricane and her husband got a job there.....ok In one email I asked her was she divorced ? she said her husband died of cancer 4 years ago.....first
major red flag.
Then she says she was on the Island of Cypress and working on a project looking for some stones that are only in Turkey. OK....sounds a liitle sttange but? the project would be done Dec1 and she would fly back and was going to retire. She sents me pics of her in Turkey and Cypress so yep I guess she IS really there maybe.
One morn she send me a text saying she fell down stairs and broke her laptop
an Apple .....the only one there are Greek and wont work with her sofrware.
Would i get her one and overnight it to her...
I thought hmmm no.....I wont buy it but she could call give them her CC number and I would ship it. Ok went to Best BUy and bought one and took to fed ex.
I was thinking 100 bucks to 150 to ship a laptop.....wrong cost me 371 dollars.
she said she would pay me back when she came home Dec 1st. OK 371 bucks
down but its not that bad if it is a scam.
The whole time My wife's daughters are telling me its a scam ....trust her.
She is going to want something else....watch
This morn she calls me and says the Turkish Gov wants 35000 us dollars for something and she only had 15k for it could she "borrow 20k"
That was it not only no but hell no...told her im blocking her number and dont ever contact me again. I give her credit its a good scam.....like my wife's daughter said she set me up from day one. She sent a few video's a few times but never said my name and thats what Sandra said was fake.....she uses the same video and has Lord knows how many more she is trying to scam at the same time. I learned never trust a blonde with big boobs.

[crew]

Sounds like you didn’t fall for anything here. As you said, the shipping charge isn’t a big deal.
I’m sorry you, and countless others, are targets for this type of scam. Sounds like you have good step-daughters to provide advice when called upon.
Best to you as you move forward with your life.

[Bigblu10]

Definitely a scam, and unless you talked to "her" by phone chances are she is most likely a he with a fake profile! Sorry to hear you lost some money but could have been much worse! Be careful out there friend.

[GradyPhilpott]

Well, $371 isn't chicken feed to me, but at least you had the good sense not to fall for the rest.

[locutus49]

Very cool that you had good advice. Many probably fall for it. Congrats.

[gmh1013]

Originally Posted by GradyPhilpott

Well, $371 isn't chicken feed to me, but at least you had the good sense not to fall for the rest.

Me either!

[goin camping]

Don't worry. If you can drive at night. You will get dates.

Why not submit a better profile on the dating service. One that draws them in instead of scaring them away. Go out for coffee and talk and just enjoy the time.

P.S. Be picky and don't them abuse your body. No need for you to be a floozy. ;)

[bdex75]

I just wish these people would use all this time and energy to do something good in this world.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[Bigblu10]

Originally Posted by bdex75

I just wish these people would use all this time and energy to do something good in this world.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Unfortunate that good people who want to meet other people get taken advantage of by low life scum. This is not how the online dating world should work.

[bdex75]

Originally Posted by Bigblu10

Unfortunate that good people who want to meet other people get taken advantage of by low life scum. This is not how the online dating world should work.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[BigBoy17]

[TheVTCGuy]

Greg, maybe you did, maybe you didn’t. $371 is not going to drive you to homelessness. I say don’t beat yourself up. If it’s a scam, chalk it up to a learning experience and move on my friend. And honestly, I think it is great you getting out there. It sucks out in the dating world, take it from me, but you suffered a loss a while back, with a little bit of luck, you will find a nice partner, someone to bring a little happiness in to your life again. There are going to be a lot of losers, scam attempts, He-shes and you name it, but still, get out there because you can find a nice companion. Here’s to you sir.

[superdog]

Don’t beat yourself up.

You got out lucky. And off easy.

You did good actually. Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice...you know the rest.

[AzPaul]

Hope it doesn't sour you on trying to meet someone else down the line.
Your instinct to interact more is a healthy one.

[kearez]

Sounds very much like a scam. Happens to all of us, I am from a much younger generation but still happens on Tinder, they have some very good bots, which even catch me out.

Don't let it shop you from meeting up. Try a set a coffee date or walk in park fairly soon after chatting to them, shows your interested and gets rid of people who just want an online fling.

[mfm22]

Don't let this dissuade you from further endeavors.
On line dating just doesn't make sense to me . Get out in the real world , Church functions , volunteer work , friends with friends. Etc . When you're up to it try being more extroverted, smile and don't be afraid to approach people with a pleasant greeting .

You'd be surprised at just how many women welcome pleasant conversation.
Good luck , have fun with it , challenge yourself. But for goodness sakes stay off the dating sites

[GB-man]

I would say you avoided the scam greg. Good job. Sick what people will do to take advantage of others.

Like noted above. Update that profile with a little more positivity. There are definitely others out there in your position and they are probably looking for a bit of sunshine vs more of what they have been dealing with themselves.

"Looking for someone to have dinner, see movies and troll around in the mustang looking for trouble"

[CamSLC]

I don't mean to be harsh, but that credit card number you used at your local Best Buy is 100% stolen.

Getting stuck with the shipping isn't the scam. It's them getting you to commit a felony on their behalf.

The "woman" you think you are talking to is a real person and a victim, who's information was compromised at some point.

Sorry.

[themast]

Hopefully you recognized what was going on and stopped it. Just this morning I heard on NPR that some people can’t get away from it (sometimes our of weakness, sometimes out of hope, sometimes out of fear to be judged by others). A lot of psychology at play. You did well!

[themast]

Originally Posted by CamSLC

I don't mean to be harsh, but that credit card number you used at your local Best Buy is 100% stolen.

Getting stuck with the shipping isn't the scam. It's them getting you to commit a felony on their behalf.

The "woman" you think you are talking to is a real person and a victim, who's information was compromised at some point.

Sorry.

Good point. It was mentioned in the article that sometimes victims become accomplices (voluntarily or not).

https://www.npr.org/transcripts/779386167

[Andad]

Greg, I'm not sure how 'she' managed to buy this laptop with a credit card?

I hope there are no underlying problems for you in the future.

[Deityjazz]

Be careful mate and get over it. A lot other people out there have lost tons of thousands so don’t beat yourself much. Just learn and keep living

[LandWatch]

Dreadful situation, but I guess on the positive side, you learned a lesson with not much cost. I wouldn’t let it put me off though ... but any talk of money would have me running a mile.

[tudorbaja27]

Definitely a scam.

[Jona]

Unfortunately you can't trust anymore. My son almost fell for the infamous Craig's List Money Order Scam. I intervened on his behalf.

Best of luck to you in the future.

[Welshwatchman]

Very common scam, and much easier to see from the rational outside than the emotional inside.

At least you were only scammed for $400. Many have gone deeper, and some have lost it all to an "attractive person" in "trouble".

[tigey]

Wait, so you went to best buy and bought the laptop and then shipped it?

[gmh1013]

Originally Posted by tigey

Wait, so you went to best buy and bought the laptop and then shipped it?

No she bought it...I picked it up and mailed it the next day.

[Jim Smyth]

I think you should go buy a new Rolex to make up for the loss.

[AK797]

It's a scam, whenever money is mentioned you best assume it is, but at least you had a bit of a ride with the fantasy blonde first before reality set in, not that different to many relationships.