Romance Scam?

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Hello I'm New here! Joined: 29 May 2010 Posts: 1

Hi 419eaters! I'm interested in your views. Is my brother (age 56) talking to a scammer? They met via eHarmony. She supposedly is 47, lives in Brazil and is a college level "professor". Even sent photos of her diplomas and students in her classroom. Also sent pictures of her condo including her bedroom. I searched for her school in Sao Paulo and her name is not listed as an instructor.

They first began communicating through eHarmony, then Facebook, then email, and SHE calls him every night at the same time using Skype. It just seemed odd that it progressed very fast, from first contact to "we are ready to be a couple" in a few weeks. She sent photographs with a kiss mark on the back (not new photos but the same photos she earlier emailed, which I found odd.) She also sent him a small box of chocolates.

Recently she announced she was taking her vacation in July, flying to meet him. However, I have been warning my brother about moving cautiously and NOT to wire her money under any circumstances. So far, my brother claims she has not asked for money, she has her own resources, she teaches finance, and her family members are Doctors, lawyers and such.

My brother is very flattered because she simply loves his jokes and is a "kind person" who is interested in him. He thinks because they met via eHarmony, she was somehow screened as legit. She recently shut down her eHarmony and Facebook accounts, and now wants my brother to set up a Skype account where they can "see" each other.

My brother has been scammed before - fortunately his bank refused to deposit a bogus check he received in payment for a Craig's list sale. He's lonely, unemployed, lives in a small town and is not in good health. Maybe I'm being too protective, but something stinks. Why would someone in Brazil be interested in an disabled guy 10 years her senior? And, as a "professor" with 2 degrees, the emails from this woman sound childish, even IF English is her second language. Like signing off with "kiss", something common with scammers. Below is an example email - written after my Brother asked her to delay visiting because he has not been feeling well:

"Sorry because I cryied yesterday...but please, don´t think I will be sad or upset with you...never!!! I can understand you . I really wish you will be good soon !
I am feeling a little sad because I don´t like to think you are feeling pain and I can´t do anything to help you about that. The only thing I can do is ´´to say to GOD`` to be with you all the time and to make you be good soon.
And I know we live far from each other...it´s not easy...maybe is better if I remember I´m not child...and to dream about ´´my love`` is very stupid ...I´m getting older...this is to the young people, not to me anymore !!!
Steve, don´t worry about me... please, take care of you...I won´t go there anymore, but my heart will be thinking of you...always!!!
If one day you put the Skype, let me know, and we can talk to each other again...
Please, be good soon...
Kiss,
Andreia

What do you think?

Posted: Sat May 29, 2010 11:24 pm

Hi Natasha,

Your brother is fortunate to have someone looking out for him.

The best thing I can recommend is that you repeat your concerns at our sister site, ScamWarners. You will need to register there as well, first, but then you could post in the 'Help! Is this a scam?' forum, and the Support Team there will be able to look into this further with you.

If your brother is able to share with you the header information from an email he has received, as well as the email itself, and you can also post that, that will be very helpful. Please make sure that all his personal information is deleted first, though. (His name and email address may appear in several places in the header.) If he is not sure how to access headers, please ask for help with this, stating which mail programme (eg Outlook, Hotmail, Gmail) he is using to receive these emails.

You'll find ScamWarners here; and the 'Help! Is this is a scam?' forum: here.