If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. Two women learned that the hard way, and their stories aren’t unique. All across the world, people are scammed everyday by con artists posing as best friends, lovers, and sometimes even family. If their stories sound familiar, beware. You could be the target of a scam artist.

Rachel DeLoache Williams was scammed out of $62,000 by a woman (“Anna”) who waltzed into her life, seemingly through friends and acquaintances. She knew all the right people in Manhattan, lived at the right address, was constantly busy with philanthropic functions, and always seemed to be dripping in money and happy to share it at will. Rachel quickly became Anna’s new best friend. But when the two went on vacation in Marrakech, Anna’s funds suddenly became less liquid, and Rachel was asked to cover expenses.

Somebody to Love

Catalina Rosas was scammed out of $50,000, and unknowingly brokered stolen artwork, all under the guise of love. A woman in her 50’s in Boca Raton, Florida, Catalina thought she had struck gold when she met “Eric”. He was everything any single woman would ever dream of meeting: dashing, quick-witted, brilliant, confident, and well-versed. It turns out she struck fools-gold, as he ended up using fake gold coins to con her out of $50,000, and her son out of $12,000. He was simultaneously dating at least two other women, and conned them out of millions in stolen art and forged checks.

Scam artists come in all sorts of disguises: friends, lovers, bankers, IRS agents, acquaintances touring overseas, or long lost relatives. If someone you just met, be it in person, over the phone, or through emails, asks you for money, think again. And again. And again.

Related Resources:

  • Find a Consumer Protection Lawyer Near You (FindLaw’s Lawyer Directory
  • Craigslist Scam Alert: 5 Signs A Con Artist is Replying to Your Ad (FindLaw’s Common Law Blog)
  • Internet Fraud is Rising, and Fake News is Adding to the Problem (FindLaw’s Technologist Blog)

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