She had been alone for 10 years when she met “him.” He was handsome, polite, and drove a Mercedes. He took her to nice restaurants, the theater, even the opera. He was quite the catch, and all her friends were jealous. She was “in love.” He didn’t talk much about his past, only saying his wife had died a few years ago and that they didn’t have any children.
He started telling her about his investments. He was “flipping” houses but didn’t have to do anything except invest while his “team” handled the rest. He bought a brand-new red Mercedes and said he had just made $150,000 flipping a house. They celebrated at a fancy restaurant in Newport Beach where there were no prices on the menus.
A few weeks later, he told her about a new investment opportunity. He said only a select few people knew about it, and they needed to keep it a secret to avoid missing out. She didn’t tell anyone. She withdrew $150,000 from her savings. He assured her they were sure to make at least $300,000, probably more. She handed him the check to invest for her. He even sent her pictures of the house, and they went out a few more times. Then he mentioned he had to take a trip for business and might be hard to reach. At first, he responded to her texts, but eventually, the messages stopped.
By the time she realized something was wrong, the check had long been cashed. All she had was his name and phone number. She didn’t even know where he lived. That’s when she knew she had been a victim of a romance scam. No one was able to help her, and the money was gone. He was charming but not sincere.
This is a warning to be careful and not to keep secrets when it comes to your finances. This is why I always recommend getting a second, third, or even fourth opinion before making an investment. I also suggest adding a Co-Trustee and ensuring that they are regularly checking your accounts. Be wise, my friends.
