Being scammed and catfished | Forum
liliant
May 21 '16
This information was told to me by the fraud investigator of my bank who questioned me about the entire story of how I was scammed and my relation to the person I deposited the money to. They would like to know if I have nothing to do with it and if I'm a real victim of the situation.
Admin Marisa
May 21 '16
Billy, I believe the person they are talking about is not a Nigerian scammer, but merely a mule. Scammer instructed Lilian to deposit money into a mule's bank account, and that's whom they identified, not a Nigerian scammer himself. Of course they are not going to catch a Nigerian.
Though I think the mule is just as guilty as the scammer himself, and she should return money to Lilian. The excuse that she "spent the money" is ridiculous. If she has sent that money to a scammer already, she should return her own money. It's a mule who should be out of money, not a victim.
deli326
May 21 '16
In my case I wound up in contact with the mule who claims she was scammed herself. She sent all her money to the scammer and he had money wired to her bank account and when it cleared she sent the money to a contact that the scammer gave her. She did not use any of the money that was sent to her. She didn't even replace her own losses. Unfortunately she still believes the scammer is telling the truth and is still wiring him money.
Please watch a segment on the Internet. A dr Phil show that aired on May 3. A woman was contacted by a financial planner that could get her a fonancial grant. Then he started a romance with her and she started to be a mule for him.
Google, dr Phil romance scams.
Please watch a segment on the Internet. A dr Phil show that aired on May 3. A woman was contacted by a financial planner that could get her a fonancial grant. Then he started a romance with her and she started to be a mule for him.
Google, dr Phil romance scams.
deli326
May 21 '16
Interesting that Marisa thinks the mule should return the money to liliant. In my case the mule claims she emptied her bank account and doesn't have the money to send me. What do u suggest I do?
deli326
May 21 '16
When I said I got my money back, let me make that clear. I got the money back for the cost of the dating website not what I sent the scammer. Sorry if it was misunderstood.
Admin Marisa
May 22 '16
I firmly believe that mules are just as guilty as scammers. It doesn't matter that they don't keep the scammers money, it doesn't matter that they "didn't know". How is that a victim's problem that they "didn't know"? Victims lose money because of them and their stupidity. They are responsible for the blooming scams. After doing Romancescam website for over 10 years, I can tell you: mules do just as much damage as scammers do, if not more. And believe me, many of them lie that they "didn't know". Maybe they don't know they are helping a Nigerian, but majority of them suspect they are doing something wrong, but still go ahead and do it because they want to make their man happy and don't want to lose him. And some consciously help a scammer, but later lie that they didn't know because they are scared of prosecution. Never be sorry for a mule!! It's not the same as victim.
I repeatedly expressed that point of view on RS:
https://www.romancescam.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=46368#p250324
In your case, I would sue. I am not sure if you will win, depends on how the judge looks at that. If the judge has my point of view, you will win. If the judge is sorry for the idiot, you might lose.
More on mules:https://www.romancescam.com/...php?f=77&t=56329
Moderator billyHill
May 22 '16
money mule..... makes much more sense now.
Deli, I think you should contact the US Postal inspector's office. You really should do that first (before a civil lawsuit) in case there are criminal charges to be filed. Not to mention with the USPI's office as long as you are the one making the complaint, it makes you look very innocent from any criminal wrong doing. This is assuming you did send something through the US Postal service.
you can find your local one from this page : https://postalinspectors.uspis.gov/investigations/mailfraud/mailfraud.aspx
click the contact us button to find a local building or do a web form complaint
Deli, I think you should contact the US Postal inspector's office. You really should do that first (before a civil lawsuit) in case there are criminal charges to be filed. Not to mention with the USPI's office as long as you are the one making the complaint, it makes you look very innocent from any criminal wrong doing. This is assuming you did send something through the US Postal service.
you can find your local one from this page : https://postalinspectors.uspis.gov/investigations/mailfraud/mailfraud.aspx
click the contact us button to find a local building or do a web form complaint
liliant
May 22 '16
Thank you Bill, Matisse and dell,
I've read from the other romance scam site that reporting your scam experience to IC3 will get you money back. Apron investigation the ic3 will give you ticket that you can use when you apply for tax. You can use years back for tax return. I did apply and I'll see how the ic3 will help get my money back. What do you think of IC3 Bill?
Thank you for all your help,
Lilian
I've read from the other romance scam site that reporting your scam experience to IC3 will get you money back. Apron investigation the ic3 will give you ticket that you can use when you apply for tax. You can use years back for tax return. I did apply and I'll see how the ic3 will help get my money back. What do you think of IC3 Bill?
Thank you for all your help,
Lilian
Moderator billyHill
May 22 '16
are you talking about this topic, liliant? https://www.romancescam.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=13250
if not, please post the topic you are talking about. copy and paste it from your browser window is fine.
if not, please post the topic you are talking about. copy and paste it from your browser window is fine.
The Forum post is edited by billyHill May 22 '16
Admin Marisa
May 22 '16
IC3 can only get your money back if a mule living in the US is involved. That's whom they can prosecute and get your money back. But they cannot recover your money from africans, as they have no power of authority in Africa and cannot go after africans. They ask you to report (and you should!) because you never know if your scam has any connections in the US.
Moderator billyHill
May 22 '16
Liliant, in your case you should report it to the RCMP, https://www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/index.shtm Unless you know for sure there are connections in the USA, then also report it to the IC3. if the US Postal Service was involved, then also report it to the US Postal Inspectors office at the address above.
I'm not really sure what Canadian snail mail is called, but if the Canadian Snail mail service was used report it to them as well.
Different countries have different authorities. There is a reason for that, and they must be respected for jurisdictional issues.
Marisa is very accurate, money can not be gotten back from someone overseas, or in another country for that matter. On the flip side of that coin, if the criminal(s) are ever caught, and you never made a report to the authorities then the authorities have no idea you are a victim and can not attempt to get your money back through the justice system.
There are very few exceptions to this rule. Here is one of the exceptions ( note the dollar figures involved in these cases). https://datingnmore.com/site/forum/topic/378
Also note how some of the Africans were living in the US when they were charged with the crime(s).
I'm not really sure what Canadian snail mail is called, but if the Canadian Snail mail service was used report it to them as well.
Different countries have different authorities. There is a reason for that, and they must be respected for jurisdictional issues.
Marisa is very accurate, money can not be gotten back from someone overseas, or in another country for that matter. On the flip side of that coin, if the criminal(s) are ever caught, and you never made a report to the authorities then the authorities have no idea you are a victim and can not attempt to get your money back through the justice system.
There are very few exceptions to this rule. Here is one of the exceptions ( note the dollar figures involved in these cases). https://datingnmore.com/site/forum/topic/378
Also note how some of the Africans were living in the US when they were charged with the crime(s).
Admin Marisa
May 23 '16
also want to add that the only cases when africans living in Africa (with no connections to western countries) were prosecuted happened either as a result of the local EFCC Nigeria raids (NOT as a result of victims reporting) or few very high profile cases when media got involved and western TV crews were sent to Nigeria.
liliant
May 23 '16
Thanks Marissa and Billy. I have the police working on my case here in Canada. As of US connection, one of the mules that my scammer asked me send the money to is in Brooklyn NY. I have the copy of the bank receipt when I wire the money.
liliant
May 25 '16
Hi to all, have you heard of getting tax deduction or refund if you file your losses to your income tax. Can I really get my money back by filing it on my income tax.
Thanks,
Lilian
Thanks,
Lilian
Moderator billyHill
May 25 '16
I can't say a thing about how Canada does taxes, liliant. Ask your tax professional is the best answer I can give you.
liliant
May 26 '16
Hello to all, I just went to my accountant hoping that I could get tax deduction to lighten my burden but we don't have theft loss here in Canada unlike in US. One of the mules was from NY, I wonder if I call IRS and inform them about the scam.
Moderator billyHill
May 26 '16
Chances are good unless that person has an extremely unique name, or you have their SSN, the IRS can't do much. But as the saying goes, ya never know until you try 
