| Dec 13, 2006 @ 12:30 PM |
"Romance Scams"
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Spirit444
Posts: 206
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Hello,
I have been approached by many sammers. In fact, so many, i can spot them almost from their profiles, pretty much from their emails, and definately from their im's.
One, "Mark Spencer", and I talked for about a month. He confessed his undying love for me pretty much from the get go. (1st. and foremost sign!)
He said everything a woman wants to hear, but never in real, life does hear.
I mean for an example, and this is one of MANY... scammer writes: >
"Hello Sweetie,
Every day I sit and dream,What would it be like?To see you directly in front of me So close, so beautiful, so tangible.
Will I ever see you?I can’t help but focus on the uncertainty,Maybe you and I are caught in a dream.Is this a moment in my life that lacks reality? Will you ever see me?What we have is such a wonderful start,
Feelings that reach across this country,But the distance and time weighs on my heart.
Can you tell me it’s meant to be?With my faith, heart, and trust on the line,How can I not wait and hope to see,What this dream or real life will define.
Are we destined to meet?
Will I ever see you?
Will you ever see me?
Is this just a dream and not reality?
Babe i do care much about u from my heart and really want us to be together,I just hope uare feeling thesame with me dear,I care............Smile,
Mark."
end quote.
pretty good huh? (lol)
Anyway.... this man didn't get me for any money. My suspicions of him sent me searching the web where I found him all over a website > "Romance Scams",
I didn't find his "picture" but I found his name, and his emails to other woman, some very similar to mine...and his exact email address >
{email address removed}
But I did recognize MANY of the pictures posted there and have personally talked (im's) to several of them. And I just "knew" they were a "mark spencer".
Upon a lot of searching, and to shorten this post, here is what i've learned so far.
Basically they work in groups, and everything is set up by computer. Even their phone numbers are through the computers or a cell now and then.
Groups of 6 or 7 work together at a time.
Basically they send out mass mailing through single sites, and the ones that return the most "enthused' response get the first attention. They are often banned from the site after such mass emails, but by then it's too late, they already peoples personal email addresses, and im handles.
They usually say; "I live (in the US) heres pics of me, my house etc. (all pics are innocent people being portrayed.) But now I am in ie; Nigeria, London, Russia are the most popular, but don't limit any other country! Some in Sweeden. and Austrailia as well. Most from the 1st. 3 though.
They fall in love really fast, They bombard u with emails and poetry, and basically do their very best to suduce your emotions. They have a script that they go by, so most of them call you 'dear' a lot. ie; > "Yes dear", "okay dear", "what's the problem dear". but beware...
Once they get used to the way u talk, and if you two don't work out, they send a "new script" your way using words u use ie; baby, honey, sweetie etc. which ever you are inclined to use. their smart. they do this for a living.
Many suspect their very government is behind it. In Nigeria especially it is suspected that they actually work for the government hence all of the state of the art equiptment.
They insist that they LIVE in California (or where ever) but happen to be out of the country for what ever reason. They usually claim to have never been married, usually much family has died. They have no one but now U, their "angel". (they use god and angel a lot)
Then eventually something terrible befalls them and they need ur help to get out of the country. or money for operation on friend / relative etc.
Other scams: They tell u all they have is money orders. they will send them to you, and u deposit them, and send them the money, keeping some for yourself usually of course. But then you bank later, informs you that the money orders were counterfeit, and now you are responsible for all the money. And YOU ARE!
Another > They send you a cheap gift from the country, but you need to pay for the shipping which is outrageous, so u get out your credit card, and the very "shipping co." that recieves this amount is actually "Them". and now they have ur credit card info, along with your address phone #, birth date by now etc.
And lastly... how I DID get taken... was that this person has all of these photos of ME! and now can use my photos to do to someone else, what they tried to do to me. I truly hate this. it haunts me, and made me feel really stupid and sad.
At first I quit the "singles sites" and removed my profile. Then one night while I was talking to my maker about things... it dawned on me, that this would only help their success in using my photos. So now... I went the opposite direction.
I have my profile on every site I could find. I'm everywhere! lol
So... hopefully, if they try to use my pics, the unsuspecting person will come across the same pics, and get a clue, that "somethin aint right". (smile)
Lesson I learned? Don't send your pics to anyone right a way... wait a while.
And be sure you end all correspondence with ANYONE the moment they say; "I am now in > ________________(another country) Tell them to contact you when they are back in the states!
Just thought I'd share.
Bless!
DeAnna
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| Dec 13, 2006 @ 1:25 PM |
"Romance Scams" |
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carpediem48
Posts: 3,138
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Pretty sad isn't it...some people actually are taken to a hurtful place by this stuff.....thanx for the post....I can see you are concerned about that. 
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| Dec 13, 2006 @ 1:35 PM |
"Romance Scams"
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razzired
Posts: 2,922
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I can't believe you spent a month talking to a guy you supposedly saw red flags from, from the start.
MJ
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| Dec 14, 2006 @ 9:45 PM |
"Romance Scams" |
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Spirit444
Posts: 206
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Yes it is Carp. A lot of people around the world hate Americans, so they don't have the same feelings toward us as say they would their own people/countrymen. And if your faith doesn't include "all" of humanity, there are not a lot of "reigns" so to speak to hold u back. My faith includes "all" of humanity so.... well... I been prayin for 'em. (smile). I pray that their our maker grants them a conscience that touches their heart. (shoot, I pray that for myself too! lol)
Since I started searching it out, i've read a lot, i mean A LOT, of posts by people that were taken, many men as well. Mostly russia women in the mens posts.
Any way, these peoples worlds have really been rocked. I pray for them too of course. There's a lot of sad stories. I'm very thankful I just got a bit of my time and photos taken.
Thanks for responding.
take care.
DeAnna
Hey razz,
Thank you for responding as well...
And well GEEEE razz! (lol)
He was the first one that started talking to me, and I didn't know about "scammers" I am very new to the computer. I'm only a couple of months old with the internet. (giggle)
Anyway, I DID suspect he was really laying it on, from his overwhelmingly flattering emails. But he was very, very, very cute! (lol) And well, It was fun at first. But I kept saying to him; "How can u feel so strong toward someone you've never met?" And I would say, wo,wo Mark, you have to back up friend" and stuff like that, and he would for a day or two, and then write me a "love poem" many very beautiful etc. Anyway, the point is, at first I just thought he was a Cancer and he wore his feelings on the outside, or that he was the type that was an emotional sort, and would fall really hard and fast and then "out" really fast also...
But it never dawned on me that he was setting me up to get money, because quite frankly I dont' HAVE any, so... can't get blood from a turnip, and you don't "protect" an empty treasure! lol So..
THAT just didn't cross my mind until... he started telling me about his business deal (was over in africa selling his dads co. his dad passed away two yrs ago.)
And said part of the deal was "$20,000 in cash. That the rest had been successfully transfered to his accounts in the states, and was meeting him saturday to collect the "cash" part of the deal. THIS is when the real flag went up.
I asked "why" so much "cash"? Why would anyone want to carry that around.
His answer; "To pay off my lawyer and buy his ticket home". (thats when I knew)
In my world, lawyers take checks and airports take credit cards, and no one that is this "rich" doesn't have credit cards!
So, I started doing searches, at first I came up with NOTHING, cause I didn't know what I was doing. But finally, i came across the words "Nigerian scams", so went there, but it was much different then the "romance scams"... but finally did a search on "romance scams", and thats how I found him.
Then... last time I talked (and this really is kind of funny) He didn't know that I knew. I mean really KNEW. And I was curious as to "how" did he plan on getting any money from me... so, I prentended at first, and talked to him like I always did... Heres what his story was.
(my son and I were laughing so hard through this, though i was kind of hurt, but would never let my son think so.) Anyway, we did get to laughing pretty hard.
He says; "Hey baby, your not gonna believe what happened to us (him and lawyer)
today! It was a setup! As soon as we left with the money, we were ROBBED, and every thing I have is gone. Curtis(lawyer) was carrying the case and they shot him twice! He is in the hospital now, and in a coma! And the hospital wants money to care for him, and to OPERATE! (LOL)
Then, I said; "O goodness sweetie! You had better be contacting curtis' family right away!
Him: "i can't sweetie, his family is in london, there is no one I can reach for months!
Me; > Well, call the law firm he works for, they'll take care of him for sure.
and You use ur credit card and fly the hec out of there sweety, just as soon as u know curtis is gonna be okay!
Him> they took my credit card too dear!
Me> what was ur credit card doing in curtis' bag sweetie?
Then.... he starts saying his computer is acting up etc. and gets off line, then comes back and says he too was shot in the leg.
I said... > "Listen sweetie, I need you to do something for me"
Him> What dear?
me; > I need you to go to this site and look at it for me.
and I pasted the very page with his name, email address, and emails he'd written etc. and few minutes went by and then he signed off. never heard from him again.
But I still keep tabs on him through other sites that tell me when he's on line, and he is still quite active using the same name and pics. So this is why i seek exposure.
So... razz... can you 'believe' it now? (smile)
if not, well, I did my best. (grin)
take care,
DeAnna
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| Dec 14, 2006 @ 9:59 PM |
"Romance Scams"
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ForumMod
Posts: 1,280
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please don't use real names or email addresses in posts even if its a spammer/scammer.
thanks and this is some helpful information in detecting the patterns.
also for more information everyone should check the "safety warning" at the bottom of the page
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| Dec 14, 2006 @ 10:20 PM |
"Romance Scams" |
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Ron9
Posts: 386
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Shoot next thing I know - you guys are going to tell me all those hot 26 yo hard bodies from New York City, Colorado are not really wanting in my pants. 
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| Dec 14, 2006 @ 10:46 PM |
"Romance Scams"
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Spirit444
Posts: 206
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Dear ForumMod,
I apologize, I didn't mean to break the rules. I honestly had already written the forum post before the blog. I tried to go back to "edit" my first post, but I can't find where it offers me to do it.
Now in my 2nd. post, I use first name only. Is that okay?
sorry,
d'
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| Dec 14, 2006 @ 10:50 PM |
"Romance Scams" |
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countryboy69995
Posts: 653
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  Ahhh what great people the MODS 
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| Dec 14, 2006 @ 10:50 PM |
"Romance Scams"
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ForumMod
Posts: 1,280
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i would have fixed it quietly if i had the editing capability on here in the forums. no problem (mostly a reminder to others who post)
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| Dec 14, 2006 @ 10:56 PM |
"Romance Scams" |
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Jankia
Posts: 9,164
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My policy is to trust nobody until its earned...in person.
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| Dec 14, 2006 @ 11:01 PM |
"Romance Scams"
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PullMyFinger
Posts: 959
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Interesting read...thanks Spirit...never seen the dynamics before...heard stories...but little detail....
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| Dec 14, 2006 @ 11:52 PM |
"Romance Scams" |
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Wildkitty
Posts: 361
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I never thought I'd publicly mention this but there's a guy that's set up a female profile on MD with the intent to talk to other males. I don' t think I have to give more of an explanation.
When I found out I was devastated...so there's all kinds of scams for many different reasons...how sad!
[Edited on 12/15/2006 12:07 AM]
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| Dec 15, 2006 @ 12:05 AM |
"Romance Scams"
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HiddenIdentity
Posts: 133
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You can't expect much from the internet.
I have trust issues as it is.
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| Dec 15, 2006 @ 12:19 AM |
"Romance Scams" |
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hiriya
Posts: 1,378
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Nice Job Spirit, 
Revealing the scaming pattern is a great help too
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| Dec 15, 2006 @ 3:56 AM |
"Romance Scams"
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NoCuteLines
Posts: 264
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MD loves 'em. They're starting to pay as members now...$50 a pop....GO MD!!!!!!
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| Dec 15, 2006 @ 4:16 AM |
"Romance Scams" |
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DoorWatcher
Posts: 6,259
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| Dec 15, 2006 @ 4:20 AM |
"Romance Scams"
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countryboy69995
Posts: 653
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Hey I love you long long long time you sexy thing.
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| Dec 15, 2006 @ 4:31 AM |
"Romance Scams" |
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SunBabe
Posts: 12,251
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MD loves 'em. They're starting to pay as members now...$50 a pop....GO MD!!!!!!
I asked about that already. Mostly MD doesn't even get to collect on it (I asked after I saw a half dozen in a row sign in as new gold members in the middle of the night -- they were gone/cancelled by morning. They all had US addresses, too, but were a little 'geographically challenged' lol...what was that someone said? New York, Colorado?...wanting to meet someone with 50 miles of Peoria )
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| Dec 15, 2006 @ 7:39 PM |
"Romance Scams"
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Spirit444
Posts: 206
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You are welcome "Pulmyfinger" (lol) and Hiriya,
My pleasure! (smile)
My son and I sort of put this togeather, we were doing a "take off" on
"You just might be a redneck..." It was kind of funny, so thought I'd share.
"You just might be talking to a scammer..."
If at any time during your communications you find yourself saying;
"Dude, is English your first language?"
"You just might be talking to a scammer..."
If they're taking so long to im u back u find urself saying;
"This is NOT a trick question".
"You just might be talking to a scammer..."
If they claim the angels in heaven are crying because they
lost your beauty to the earth!
"You just might be talking to a scammer..."
If they insist that your next contact with eachother is
VIA WESTERN UNION! (lol, my personal fav.!)
'You just might be talking to a scammer..."
If they say from the get go, "I will love you long, long, long time you sexy thang"!
(chuckles going out to Countryboy, smile)
Yah bless!
DeAnna
Anyway, it was kind of fun, and well, mostly true! lol.
Would love it if people added some.
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| Dec 15, 2006 @ 8:13 PM |
"Romance Scams" |
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countryboy69995
Posts: 653
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Heyy I'm sexxy as Mel Gibson and Donald Trump is my real brother I just found out today.
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