Once Upon a Scam

Times and times again an online romance scammer finds yet another victim.

It would be a lonely woman.

Older or younger, the age isn’t always the major factor. Although, it’s true, the older ladies are easier to be lied to or get their minds to be fogged with sweet messages.

Level of education isn’t also a pivot point that determines whether a victim would believe a scammer or not.

Marital status is also irrelevant in some cases. Married, widowed or divorced ladies fall under the scammers’ influence equally.

The feeling of unhappiness and isolation, of rejection and being misunderstood, not valued or not appreciated is what might turn a lady into an easy prey for a scammer.

And sincere belief of each: to become a scam victim can happen to anyone but not to me.

July 2020

A message from a stranger on a social network’s account:

Hi

How are you

The name in the profile and random pictures of children and men do not provide any information about the person writing. But the person sounds interesting, outspoken and smart. Not like other visitors who very often post some pre typed or just plain dumb messages.

Can I write you again?

In a week a new message appears. Now the person talks more about himself. He is an orthopedic surgeon on a contract in Syria, and the contract will end in few months. He is divorced as his wife cheated on him with his friend. It happened while he was away on work. Since then, his ex-wife moved to Germany taking their daughter with her.

Sounds typical, one of few standard versions for scammers. It would alert anyone who is aware and has the knowledge about how the scammers work. But not all yet.

There is something special about this scammer. Although using one of standard scripts he really gets into the character. His imagination runs wild, providing his victim with elaborated details and description of situations he found himself. For example, he is talking with such sadness about how badly he misses his daughter. Or how he is upset about his divorce and signs a contract with UN out of desperation. He admits, he travels a lot, works a lot of contracts in Germany, in Spain, in other countries so he would be able to see the world. His lengthy absences from home might have forced his wife to see another man.

He is an excellent psychologist as well. Looking at the pictures his victim sends him, he notes that she looks somewhat unhappy. He gently asks if she is willing to share her feelings about what makes her to look sad. Yes, she has issues with her husband of 20 years, and he expresses his concern and heartfelt compassion.

October 2020

After some deliberation the communication moves to Skype. He finally shares his pictures. If his victim would Google the pics, she would be able to discover who was the real person in them. The pictures are stolen from Dr Dimitrios Tsoukas, ORTHOPAEDIC SURGEON, ORTHOPEDICIAN in Nicosia, Greece.

There is no speedy falling in love with this scammer compared to his colleagues who profess their undying forever love on second or third day of chats. There are phone calls just to check up on his client. His voice is calm and polite. His messages are short, not a copy/paste from prepared scripts. He talks about his plans to open a clinic in Europe after his contract, his plans to see his daughter. His client has a daughter too, same age. He is very passionate about the girl and always inquiries about her wellbeing.

As time passes, he confesses, he trusts his client and feels comfortable talking to her. He even starts making plans for their future life together.

The communication makes an unexpected turn when he sends a picture of a suitcase full of money. When asked what the meaning of it is, he explains, he sold his parents house but cannot deposit the money into his account as his ex-wife might get the hold of it like she did with all his money before. Instead, he left it with a delivery company in Spain. He is worried, the box might disappear first. Also, he needs to pay storage fee. The suitcase can be delivered to the victim, but fee must be paid, 3500 EURO.

The victim just started working after staying at home for many years. She tries to get a bank loan but was refused as her salary was too low. She lets the scammer know about it. He is desperate, doesn’t know what to do, how to pay the storage fee and do not let the money disappear. If the storage fee is paid, the box with money would be delivered to victim.

He provided contact information of a person, Judith, from that delivery company in Spain, probably playing that role himself as well. After long exchange of emails, requests for proper documents of money box stored and many pleading messages from the scammer, victim transferred the amount to cover storage fee.

That’s where it starts.

There’s a believe, the first money received from the victim along with her photo are taken to a money ritual, to a witch or any other person who conducts those rituals in West Africa. The victim becomes totally controlled and manipulated by the scammer. That’s how this victim feels. She understands something is off, but obediently keeps sending the money.

The love starts pouring in, poems included. Victim is absolutely involved and feels in love. Victim lets her husband know, she met someone and wants a divorce.

November 2021

But the requests for money keep coming. The scammer is very inventive, sends various supporting documents to prove all is real: 5000 EURO for storage, 4000 EURO to release from customs in airport while transporting the money box to Germany. Victim sends the money, borrowing from a neighbor, then from friends. But the box is detained by police now, 18 000 EURO must be paid. Scammer is very smart and persistent. He explains the technical details and laws of transporting the money box. But to get the box from police is impossible as the victim has no more money.

There’s a talk now about a possibility of breaking his contract with UN if a penalty of 10,999 EURO is paid. Victim borrows the money and sends it, this time to UK. And the scammer will come to victim in two weeks once his release papers are signed. She must take a credit to pay back the money she borrowed. But no one comes. No one writes as well.

A week later he writes about been in the hospital after a terrorist attack. His papers are not signed as the person responsible for it is hurt too and in the coma.

Seriously, a great actor or a writer is lost to scamming business. He comes with a new plan: someone can get him over the border for only 1500 EURO. Or even better, he can be provided with a ticket to fly out only for 900 EURO. But wait, 400 EURO is needed to be added. No, he is stuck there again and famished, have no food or money for food as 500 EURO more is required to pay. Not paid? No food. A week later, must pay 500 EURO more so he can be fed. Now he is in the hospital again, heart issue this time.

There are more payments to make in this affair. Those payments are made.

Victim demands an explanation. She understands now she’s been played. She lost her job, has no more money to send. The message exchange becomes short and infrequent. Now scammer knows he will not get any more money from this victim. She is done and can be dismissed.

After an open talk with a scam hunter, she confronts her scammer, requests to return the money. She sees now how possessed and spellbound she was. That will never happen of course, the return of money. Scammer doesn’t admit, he is a criminal, keeps insisting he is real. But he doesn’t care now. There are more trusting women to be worked.

A fact needs to be mentioned. If victim was aware of it, she would see who he was from the beginning.

Are there UN doctors in Syria? - Quora:

"There are no UN doctors in Syria. The UN does not employ doctors to work overseas. If they have a need for medical services in a country, they have access to locally engaged examining physicians they can call on to undertake pre-placement medical examinations or to advise on medical evacuations. The UN maintain an up-to-date list of these doctors which is available to anyone including yourself at hr.un.org. Go to Health & Wellbeing and look for Medical Services Around the Globe. There are 4 doctors listed for Syria, all with Arabic names.

It’s unlikely the US has many surgeons at all in Syria and if they are actually on the ground in Syria they’re way too busy to be carrying on with you over the internet. It’s much more likely they would be stationed in Turkey where the US likely has permanent medical facilities".

This story is just one of many similar. Well, maybe other are not that elaborate, maybe not that artistically performed. But it should teach people how scammers work and prevent of becoming a scam victim.

Be safe.