Widow's tragic story sheds light on romance scam epidemic
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- čas přidán 20. 04. 2024
- Laura Kowal was looking for love online and ended up being conned out of $1.5 million before her mysterious death. A year-long CBS News investigation found that experts believe law enforcement isn't keeping pace with romance scammers like the ones who victimized Kowal. Correspondent Jim Axelrod reports the first of a four-part series, "Anything for Love," a look inside the nation's romance scam epidemic. [Don't miss Part 2 of the investigative series "Anything for Love" on the "CBS Evening News with Norah O'Donnell," Monday, April 22.]
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This is the same generation that told their children to never talk to strangers, yet here they are sending their life saving to them. Blows my mind.
My sincere condolences for this family and their loss.
My thoughts exactly.
Lol good point
Good point. 😮
Twenty years ago someone online sweet talked me. As soon as he asked for money, I blocked that evil fool.
Good for you 👍
😂
LOL!!
Nowadays, I’d be afraid someone could get too much info about me if I talked to someone I didn’t know.
Same !
I'm old school. I don't give money to a man. Not one red cent! So, I don't get these women and men giving total strangers thousands of dollars!??? Baffling! Give it to your FAMILY! Give it to an ANIMAL Shelter! Give it to a WOMAN'S shelter!
When I was young, a boyfriend of mine asked to borrow money and he never paid me back. Since than an important principle in my life is to never give men money.
I hear you girl!😒
It happens to men too.
@@The-Oneness11 So you'd be ok if a woman borrows money and doesn't pay it back?
@@auaiao9 I said, "and men"
There is a special place in hell for the people responsible.
Yes indeed! And not soon enough will they go there!
I heard hell doesn't exist.
Yeah the people who fund criminal organizations by being stupid.
9:18 Ok so she was a scammer herself
There is no hell, heaven/hell are human concepts to fool the sheep. Now the religious grifters make a lot of money. Sick.
I don’t understand how people are still falling victim to these scams. Common sense would tell you that if someone you never even met face to face asks for money, it’s a huge red flag. Absolutely heartbreaking.
Do not judge the victims! Scammers prey on widows specifically because of their vulnerability. My mother was scammed out of 20K after her partner died.
Especially younger aged, I can understand the elderly. People need to gain control of their elderly phones and place a scam blocker, like I have. No number rings through that are not in my contacts, otherwise, leave a message....they don't.
@@kountryedge sweetie that's a different kind of scam not romance scams
@@Carolynnin The people who were successfully scammed are volunteers. Age is no excuse. Bein the target of a scammer is a matter of chance, sending money to someone you never met in person is a matter of choice.
It's not just elderly people who are successfully scammed, it's all ages, both genders, people in many different socio-economic situations. Even highly educated people.
It's just a stereo type foisted on older people while in reality, scammers only care if they can squeeze money out of their targets.
@@FarBear-by6rw but the same things can be done with romance scams, by blocking certain apps and websites.
Women over 50 are looking for love. Men over 50 are looking for a Nurse and a Purse.
They are both looking for the same thing but a man over 50 is looking for a woman under 50.
No we're not. I love talking to a woman who remembers the 80's..
@@dexterwestin3747Significantly under 50.
@@dexterwestin3747 But they aren't likely to find that unless they are exceptionally attractive or well to do. So they take what they can get. They are usually draining.
Aint that the truth.
This happened to my aunt. She lost more than 350k, lost her home, her retirement, etc. She now living with her ex-husband’s new family, in a room they built in their garage. She’s in her 70s and living in a garage. So sad
so stupid ... no one could do that with me... never ever
If I was her I'd rather go into old folk's home retirement apartment condo I'll have the government pay for it or I'll rather go to the shelter and work my way to get government housing
Charmcity I am so sorry this happened to your Aunt.
Nobody is safe in these dating sites. 😕
@Charmcity199 - She's lucky to have that ex-husband and his new family!🙏
Now he has 2😂😂😂
She was worth 1.3 million and died broke. All she had to do was stop, and tell her daughter. I don't get why she kept sending money. Sad story.
Also they have the worst grasp of English language if you ask them "What part of NYC or Ohio are you from ?" they reply "America !" I play with the scammers sometimes for kicks and there is no way people don't know they are scammers on the other end.
Because she had hope. It's the sunken cost fallacy ppl fall into. Even after I told my neighbor he was being scammed, & I reported it, HE SENT MORE TO THE SCAMMER. Insane. But there's insane ppl out there, that's nothing new.
@@tonymontana4284 For lonely people, suddenly this new person called you honey, sweetie etc brought so much hope to a relationship. I would feel suspicious when strangers get close to me so soon, and question their motive!
I think if her family is closed to her on a daily basis, her daughter would have detected sudden changes in her behavior. It's why a close family helps in any situation.
@ps7348 at least they let the victims think that. 😢
It’s an addiction just like drugs. They thrive on the high of rOmAnCe 🙄🙄🙄
Giving money to someone you never met is a special kind of stupid sorry.
I agree, and we are not being mean
@@danababy1977💯
@@danababy1977 right
Shenanigans!
❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
It’s wild that you have to warn people not to send complete strangers their money. Sad.
A lot of Boomers have dementia. Money and dementia.
Loneliness is a serious problem.
@@tonymontana4284
It is!
I truly wish there were a way for kind gentle people to meet other kind gentle people. I know others exist. I’m a recluse for a reason. I embrace the simple joys in life every day. I enjoy my own company. The only time I really notice being alone, is when I think: the only thing that could make this moment better would be sharing it with someone. - I cherish those moments as well all the same.
@@malaikamillions Lots of lonely prisoners in jail that need pen pals and even marriage.
Sadder than sad, she wanted to give her $$ to a stranger than her own daughter 🙄
Catfished out of $1.7M 🤯
They try to disguise their accent by being Swedish or some type of European.
I was scrolling for a comment like yours. I really don't feel sorry for her mother. She had all of that money saved up. Her entire legacy gone in less than a year all because a man caught her attention and became the center of her world instead of her family. If I was her daughter, I'd be livid with her for being so stupid. What a waste of a life. She spent such a long time hiding her ignorance and shame, then she left her dog to die just so she could punish herself instead of seeking help. Jesus.
@@donnahilton471If you can't tell a Nigerian when you hear it, that's on you.
@@donnahilton471 There is no European accent that sounds Nigerian or Ghanian though... 6:38 Listen to this man speak. If he said that was a Swedish accent. Or German or French or any other European accent. Not many would believe that.
If someone claims to be Swedish, Finnish, Italian, Greek, German, just ask them to say some random sentence in that language. If they hesitate, refuse, make up excuses, or try to stall and google, well, then they're probably not the nationality they claim to be.
When a man askes for money or anything relates to money from you, that's a sign to get out of the relationship.
That's not necessarily true. But it is true when you don't actually know the person
@@justsimplygoodcooking3176 no, they're right. Means a BANK won't give them.money. That's all you need to know.
Don't consider it a relationship when you've never even met.
When he asked for money tell him to earn it lol. Tell him go mow my lawn and pick then weeds 🤣
I had an AVON lady who died, and her husband took over selling her Avon. He let a woman move in with him he met selling AVON. He came home from work and everything he had in his house was gone. She stole all his dead wife’s diamond jewelry. She stole credit cards, checks. He was devastated.
Being alone is frightening to some people. He was crying when he told me his story. That was 1999. It’s worse now.
It happen to my Uncle when he had a stroke. His Sisters tried to get Power of Attorney but it was denied. He died with nothing. The lady cleaned him out!
What is wrong with people? What part of them tells themselves this is OK? Do they not have parents or grandparents? Would they wish this on them? Sorry I'm really just ranting on a keyboard. This makes me so upset.
😮
Thanks for posting that. We need to learn these stories. Damn.
Dang that sucks. For me it's like this, if we are not on the same page she can miss me. Just smile and keep on walking.
These dating site clearly warn you about not sending money to strangers.
But is the warning so in-your-face that you can't miss it? Like a large red blinking banner across the top of the site?
She was desperate for any man so she sent money to keep him happy.
@@mysophie1023 Pretty much.
@@mysophie1023yes 😂😂 actually it is. As soon as you match with someone.
Yeah, um, they're in on it. I don't know a site that doesn't have your ISP # immediately. They know EXACTLY where you are!
$1.5 million to a stranger? 😢🤦🏾♂️
@BrokeMillionaire1 I’d say that scammer retired after that payload. But, of course he had to pay his BOSS, the person that supports these Evil Beings. And when I think about it, there were probably several scammers in on this fortune. No one can imagine how manipulative these heathens can be.
@@paulahunt3508 indeed.
This is so sad to hear. Thanks to Laura Kowal's daughter for sharing her story and educating others.
This is horrible. Both those women (both the hospital exec and the postal worker) were used. It's disgusting what was done to them.
They weren’t used they were complicit.
Deep down inside they know it's a sham.
@@tonymontana4284 No they don't.
It's clever (and insidious) how the scammers finagled the victims into doing something illegal. That sort of sets the victim up to not report it, because now they've done something illegal themselves.
@@minoozolala Yeah they know it's a scam unless your in complete denial, beautiful people never use dating sites to get dates.
Who the hell has 1.3 million bucks lying around?? What are people doing for a living that I am not aware of???
You can make really good money being a nurse.
Exactly.
Insurance policies.
@@justmejenny7986 not that good-they said she was a Hospital Executive.
Those were my thoughts exactly! Here I am trying to make some extra money to help my daughter begin her college education. While on the other hand some people have money to throw up in the air. This woman could have lived the rest of her days peacefully and happily vacationing with friends and family instead she cut her life short. Poor woman. I hope her daughter can at some point come to terms with this sad situation.
“We all eat lies when our hearts are hungry”.
Sadly, this case is a perfect example of that. My heart goes out to this young lady and her Mom.
That saying is so true.
If someone asks you for money that's a red flag to get the hell out now!
One thing these victims have in common: money!!!! You can't send somebody $1 million if you don't have it!
Most of the victims only send hundreds or thousands, but if it’s all you have, what’s the difference?
I was catfished for about 15 minutes by someone who I thought was my neighbor, asking me to run an errand for her while I was in town. We live 15 miles from town so that wasnt so weird. We texted back and forth about a recent storm and the damage, but when "she" asked me to pick up two $200 gift cards and text her the numbers, I knew it wasn't my neighbor.
I cannot believe people fall for this scam!
These stories both leave me scratching my head & breaking my heart.
What else have you been scratching?
The way the clip portrayed the woman as a helpless victim I was caught off guard when I heard she participated in scamming others.
Fraud. Scams. Loneliness. If you plan to date on line, do your due diligence and research the person's background. Find out ABOUT the person. Don't be dumb about sending anyone money. HUGE RED FLAG if someone asks for money.
Well run up there with a sign on your forehead saying, " please, I'll do anything to get a man ". How can they not take the blame on themselves?
Stop with the victim shaming.
Can be summed up in one word, pathetic
@@justmejenny7986 Victim? She knew what she was doing, giving him money was not right, yet, she was so desperate that she went against her own thoughts, her own daughter, and gave her money willingly.
We have a professional grifter here on America , begging for supporters to send them their last penny to pay his legal bills, and they send their money to a con man who says, "I'm rich"....Trump gets away with it, and he certainly is a lying thieving snake oil salesman....that's how gulible half of America is!!! It is crazy town
Women have been reading romance novels for years. But you should not believe them to be real.
Weird comment.
Agree sometimes people forget the difference between reality and fantasy it’s no body’s fault.
Despicable. The internet is like the Wild West. How desperate, vulnerable, and yet ironically isolated, we’ve become in this frenzied world of social media.
It can be used as a weapon and dangerous
Social media is somewhat useful but I think in many cases its disadvantages outnumber its benefits
Dr. Phil has had shows about this FOR YEARS !!! and people still fall for this !!!!!
Exactly
Dr. Phil Primetime is 🔥🔥🔥🔥
We don’t need Dr. Phil telling us nothing! This is the same generation that taught their children to never speak to strangers.
1.5 million and she never told her daughter?!?! How sad!
😮💸
You would be surprised what parents hide from their children; especially if they are embarrassed.
I was sort of scammed the other day. I was walking into the grocery store and this older black woman in a wheelchair started loudly telling me how beautiful my son is... saying he seems like such a sweet boy. And he is. So I said "thank you so much!" When I walked out she asked me for money claiming she was homeless and poor. She had her nails done... her braids done.. those aren't cheap. I heard her as I was pulling away gaslighting some other woman telling her how beautiful she is.. and then asking for money. People have NO SHAME.
Always date local, always in public venue.
Even locals are scamming people 🙄🙄🙄
@@gasmith7486 but at least you would know they are a real person. To your point, people are just being so vicious towards each other. It's disheartening.
But, there no local men who are richer than me or getting more salary than me... I prefer remaining single and unmarried than dating down or marrying down..
"Dating down or marrying down"? Sounds like someone is looking for a handout. How about let's all make our own way in life, be responsible for ourselves like adults should be? Remember this when your checklist for a partner includes making more money than you do, they got all that money somehow. Not everyone makes their money from honest, hard work. Most cut throats to get where they're at in business. They'll not bat an eye at cutting your throat as well. I'll take an honest person any day of the week. I'm an adult, I can make my own money.
Stay local.
If online plan to meet in a public place within 1-2 weeks.
Do not give money.
The crazy part about all of this is that there are some people watching this video thinking 'poor woman, so sad she fell for a romance scam.' while on the other hand on their way to send gift cards to their " lover" they met on a dating site that needs money to pay for work materials.😅
😂😂
😂😂😂
Seriously - I watch the social catfish channel. They have a new romance scam victim every week, and sometimes it’s someone who says they watch the very same channel! I guess they convince themselves they’re smarter than everyone else, or that they know it’s really true love and the others were just infatuated, etc etc.
This is why I don’t do online dating...
Be careful who you meet in person! I could relate a long, complicated story about a guy I dated and what he pulled off with several other women. I was relatively lucky and only bought him a few gifts. The others weren't so lucky or savvy.
@@gogreen7794 right
Am I understanding correctly? She sent $1.3 million to someone she never met face-to-face?
Yep
happens all day, every day online. a billion dollars a year goes to scammers in these other countries with the government being just as corrupt. what government isn't going to want to have a billion dollars a year coming in to the economy every year? i had a friend that sent over 40,000 dollars to a "woman" in Russia that he thought he was going to marry. when he told her he wasn't sending anymore money, that she needed to get on a plane and come to him, she disappeared. he hung himself a week later. he was smart and very good looking, had a lot of money and could have had any woman he wanted. all his friends tried to tell him he was being scammed but he wouldn't listen. it really made no sense at all.
Then offed herself…sounds guilty to me
are you here to judge??
@@PM2024- yes, definitely
There is no such thing as love at first sight or first text. Wake up, people. Don’t be so gullible!
Love at first sight does exist, my grandfather new my grandmother was the one at first sight.
It is extremely rare though and unless the man backs it up with ring and provision and protection, it's fake.
I get hit on Facebook and when I report them, Facebook does absolutely nothing.
Facebook loves the scammers. More accounts = more revenue for Facebook. They’ll never do anything about it.
I ask them if they live in Nigeria. And do they need my bank acct info
Facebook is a cesspool.
Oh dear girl, my heart goes out to you! Thank you for finding the courage to share your mother’s story. You are being of service. She would be, she IS proud of you❣️🙏
Dam I heard of losing 20,000 or 50,000$ but 1.5 mil… that is an absurd amount.
What a tragic, twisted story. So sorry Kelly your mother got caught up in this dark saga. If money gets involved in your online dating chats, run!!!
It's very sad people fall for this stuff. I guess they are that lonely. 😢
😢
If someone asks for money it shows they don’t have their life together.
if a woman asks for money run like hell
Really cant understand how people get fooled.
I once started an internet chat and as soon as he asked for money I ran. Didnt get a cent from me!
Idk who needs to hear this…but you can be happily single!!
It’s not just dating sites, there are fake profiles on social media sites as well, such as Instagram and Facebook. These scammers steal other people’s picture and pretends to be impersonating them.
Mostly men pretending they are widowed or “peacekeepers” and are in the military, which they use as an excuse to not being able to videochat.
You don’t need a Man to Live, Thrive, or Survive.
Well said! Great words.
No you don't, but having a man is nice.
@@seth7712Not All Men
God created woman to be a help mate to man;
wanting Companionship is
Normal.
@@bebe553No, thanks. They have enough to do.
This is why I have never tried a dating site. Very sad.
Sometimes I cave and download an app but quickly delete. From creeps that live nearby to scammers from Nigeria, I want no part of it.
It's just a lot of false advertising. Nobody looks like their ads w AI people.
That is so sad after my fiancé passed away I lost interest in having a relationship with anyone he passed away 8 year’s ago I’m 66 now and happy living by myself without any issues or drama 👍🏻 it’s sad that her mother was scammed and then lost her life and not by her hand 😢 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
Right
My “boyfriend “ since 2016, passed away March 7th. I don’t think I can handle another relationship, because he isn’t replaceable. I’m 65. Not long before his passing, he wanted us to be legally married. I am now very carful who I associate with, because I know I’m a target.
She wanted to be loved THAT badly. Badly enough to sleepwalk to her own death.
I’ve been dating a young Woman for four months and we haven’t used the boyfriend girlfriend word. Saying I love u in 12 days is insane
Bro at that point you’re stalling
Four months? Yeesh. I hope you at least had the discussion about being exclusive. You either know or you don’t at that point.
My boyfriend and I didn't become exclusive until 4 months. There's no need to rush relationships. Get to know each other and don't be intimate in the dating stage.
What do you call each-other then after 4 months of “dating?” My…?
I hope you’ve met this person in real life. If not, you’re either wasting time or sooner or later they’re going to ask for money…
It's so heartbreaking. This happened to my friends dad.... He was a retired Sheriff. His wife of all his life passed away two years ago from cancer. He had some dementia starring, and was lonely and wanted to be in a relationship. He fell for one women locally, who used him and took money from him. His kids stepped in and got that stopped.... Only to have him get scammed online dating a few months later. He lost all his money. Had to sell his home. The police tracked it all to overseas scams. He sadly passed away unexpectedly a few months ago. This keeps happening and it's awful and heartbreaking and disgusting.
What a fool.
@@joanbelmont5450Yikes. He had dementia and was grief stricken and you call him a fool.
My brother knows all of this and yet he did the same thing and got scammed for thousands...
With AI coming out its gonna be twice as bad soon
Even if it’s AI, it’s still going to be someone you never met, asking for money. Use your common sense.
This. It’s going to get easier to fool people.
The rule still applies, even if it’s a person you met in person. If they ask for money or ask you to get involved in something shady, RUN!
There is a special place in hell for these scammers
That hurts my heart. That poor daughter lost her only friend. I'm so sorry for this beautiful young woman. No man is worth this.
Ll
So sorry for your tragic loss. My Mom was taken by a grifter. Unfortunately, one of my brothers refuses to forgive her even though she was a victim.💔
There are no victims only volunteers.
Brother angry because he lost his inheritance?
I wouldn’t forgive her either. Let me guess, she now expects you and your brothers to pick up the pieces…
I don't blame him. You ain't losing my money too.
You reap what you sow.
Self-deception is a big component of “falling in love” online. According to this story, it is also is a deadly self deception
They were not dating. You can’t date people you never met.
I can't understand how people fall for those scams, sorry.
Same here! It blows my mind how even intelligent, educated people fall for this load of crap.
@FreeSpirit47 and tragically, she died shamed, alone and penniless.
The heart rules the head.
I am right there with you. I'm an empathetic person but it's mind boggling to me
@@Monika-mh2je It truly is heart breaking. My career is not in criminology, yet it seems very fishy. As if she was murdered, not a suicide. Her daughter spoke of her mother's love for her dog plus a suicide being very unlike her. Add to that, how far away her mother's body was found. It seems very suspicious.
If only her daughter had looked into it sooner, the daughter had no way of knowing how dire the situation was.
This was a legitimately heartbreaking story. Bless that poor woman. ❤
As a 50+ widow who tried online dating for a brief while, I have harsh words for other men and women in my generation. The chances of finding a decent partner on any dating site are almost zero now. The more you exude desperation, the more attractive you are to scammers. Shut off the computer and go live your life. You have a better chance of finding someone that way and if you don't, find peace in your solitude and be grateful for what you do have. Stop torturing yourself and the people who truly love you. ☮
I totally agree
I couldn't agree more. You are absolutely right! Iam around the same age. Finding that "special someone" online is like looking for a needle in a haystack!
SO SORRY YOU LOST YOUR precious mom-I pray you find PEACE AND HEALING. THESE SCAMMERS WILL GET THEIR
KARMA.'
amin
Lord have mercy. When. When. When will we stay off the internet meeting strangers.
Wow. I knew people were scamming and being scammed, but damn..a twist turning the scammed into criminals. That lady who was "caught" is going to prison for doing stuff she knew full well was illegal!
Just don't do it
Omg she was found dead?!??! What a terrible tragedy thats crazy
I wonder if she finally figured out if what she was being used for and said I am out or will go to the police and they came after her?? So sad!
Or when she realized that she had been scammed, it caused her so much pain that she didn’t want to live.
I just can't see these scammers going through all of that trouble. They likely knew she couldn't pin much on them, they probably knew her well by then. Over a million dollars from one person? Wow. I hope the daughter finds justice
I believe she committed suicide because she realized she had been taken.
@@marytheresejacksonlutz2533I agree.
I've never thought online dating was safe.
If they ask for money up from, its a scammer. Easy to solve by asking them to send you a selfie holding an apple to verify themselves. I have never had a single person be able to do it. the usual response is my phone is bad. I said then borrow a friends phone. They tend to go away after that.
Smart and thank you for sharing this. Hopefully it helps someone.
Are you kidding?? It doesn't matter if it's in the beginning or not!!
Good idea!
No scammers cannot. They use stolen photos of other people.
No the point is people using fake photos cant replcate that persons photo holding an apple@dianegreyson8787
I believe the 25-30% estimate of fake guys is accurate. I've been using several dating apps and have encountered a HUGE number of fake guys. Some the apps identify and boot... some I can figure out on my own. For sure, I no longer talk to anyone who does not live in my own town or refuses to meet me in person. About ready to just quit the entire online thing because it seems like such a waste of time.
It is. They're nothing but false advertising.
You have to be really really mentally and emotionally unstable to wire that much money to a stranger
There’s a special place in hell for people that scam and steal from vulnerable people. Blasphemy
Her being interviewed in a bonnet is questionable.
I was taken as well by a man I met online. My husband died three years prior to my getting involved. I was not lonely, I had friends and family who told me every day I was being used. I’m educated, a retired RN and social. But the heart trumps the mind and I saw what I wanted to. This man has moved on, won’t talk to me now which is ok. He has someone else ensnared. I tried to warn her, her son contacted me and asked me to talk to her. I did. She ended up blocking me. Yes, we believe what we wish things to be.
So please don’t judge us, say how can this happen? There was a time I may have said that as well…
You were manipulated and victimized. Please dont blame yourself. There is some circumstance that each one of us may have been caught into. Im glad to hear you are away from that now
You were lonely. You obviously were--need to admit that this played a role. SMH
If you are okay that’s all it matters past has past noone can change that but we can change the future. God bless you.
I can’t feel sorry for you. You are a retired RN who has a social circle that has been married. There are people in this world that will never have neither of the above. No past husband, no career and are going to work until they drop dead. You were not lonely, you were bored and had everything at the palm of your hands, you didn’t appreciate what you had and needed more. I’m sure you took your family down with you. Take responsibility and make it right with those who are sticking by your side.
Longing to be in a relationship after the death of a partner or just out of loneliness can be a miserable experience. Feeling that someone finally comes along and shows a little bit of affection and offering companionship can leave normally reasonable people in a very vulnerable position. Such a tragic story.
When they ask for money is a huge red flag and a sign to RUN.
if one asked me for money i would say im broke you send me money. If like one guy told me he had scurvey and needed money to get well id send him a bag of oranges and tell him lots of luck....
Just never, ever loan/give money. Date people close to home so you can meet in person. Do a background check…It’s too easy for scammers to con the lonely, no matter the age. They prey on hope.
I’m a divorced 58 yr old female who dates online. I only meet men in LA near my neighborhood.. currently dating a few and never spent a dime on them but have been treated to concerts,plays,dancing and fun times. Don’t understand these scammers
Smh. People either willfully ignore red flags or just plain ignorant. These stories always amaze me.
I can't comprehend the stupidity of giving 1.5 million dollars to somebody you've never actually met.
Why would anyone "date" someone they never meet in person or even see on camera? It sounds like this entire relationship was via messaging.
Very suspicious. I am so sorry to the daughter. Lost her Father & her Mother to the grief from that loss. How do these scammers sleep at night?
They don’t sleep
They have zero remorse. They see this as a business, and the victims are “clients who are buying into the fantasy of love with an attractive person”.
This is heartbreaking.
This was not a story for Sunday Morning. I watch it to be uplifted and not cause anxiety or depression.
I found out about my husband having a "romance" with a scammer after he had died, and luckily, very little money exchanged hands. It happened at a time in our marriage where we were struggling, and had been working on our relationship, but because of the stupidity on his part, they were able to blackmail him. I ended up tracking down the perpetrators in Nigeria, and charges were filed through the FBI's cyber crime unit, but nothing has been done. Yes, I know CBS wants to educate the public, but this was a painful reminder of a difficult time in my life.
It’s bc older people watch this show and they’re more likely to fall for this. It’s the perfect place for this story.
Making this sad story about you 🙄
@@astphi868Agreed. People are STILL falling for romance scams even though they are heavily educated about it.
I thought this was a great piece despite the fact that the woman met a tragic end. I liked that they were able to get an ex-scammer to spill the secrets, and I like that they featured another victim-turned-accomplice that is facing jail time because some of the scam victims can end up as accomplices - willing or unwilling.
This is truly sad & disturbing.
They also spam the comments on social media sites looking for victims. Warn your parents & and grandparents to NEVER send money or gift cards to anyone they don't know. And EVERYONE should learn how to do a reverse image search! We have to watch out for each other & put these people out of business!
And do not answer your phone uf you do not know the number, if it is important they will leave a VM.
Thank you for that, I will.
This happened to an older female in my family, it's sad and so beyond wrong.
she killed herself?!
@@AC-kf2ky No but she was love scammed out of all her retirement savings 😥
So sorry. People are so mean.
If a stranger asks you for money on the Internet, DON'T GIVE THEM A CENT. It's insane how people still can't listen to common sense.
The lady needs to fill out form 709 for the IRS to report her gifting
I bet the Match CEO hasn't hired previous scammers to show them how easy it is. Cheaper too!!
Good point. They’re not taking any precautions to make it harder for a scammer to get on their site. They don’t take action unless their OWN USERS report the fake profiles. Basically they have a disclaimer on their site that says that they can’t guarantee that the profiles are real, and the best that you can do is report them and to not give them money.
If a man or woman asks you for money or ask you anything dealing with money or anything financial that's your clue to run in the other direction.
Two women fall victim to the same scam but even in this video you’ve portrayed yt Laura as a victim (even the FBI agent called her family with a warning), but question Blk Jennifer (who’s also a victim) about “ruining ppl’s lives” when she had no idea she was involved in a scam. AND she’s facing criminal charges?! How??? Give Jennifer the same grace and empathy you gave Laura and her family!
My sediments exactly 💯 Jennifer facing 30 years, ok you know she was scammed, she's come forth with the truth.
Exactly and she’s a veteran and she currently works. She doesn’t have a million dollars and she was scammed and yet she’s treated like she did something wrong.
they are showing her grace by letting her explain that she is also a victim. If Laura hadn't killed herself, she would've also been investigated and would face criminal charges.
@@AC-kf2ky I doubt it… the FBI agent called her daughter to tell her her mom was a VICTIM. While Jennifer has a very similar story and she’s been criminalized and is fighting for her life.
I saw that too. The media was very manipulative. Both are victims of scammers.
Emmanuel the Nigerian prince took the day off for the interview. 😂
😂😂😂
I’m soooo thankful I’m not a needy person. You would think with all the warnings & scam stories no one would fall for these anymore. Be content with yourself
Yuck. Please don’t shame victims or act like being ok all alone is the answer. People are meant to have villages - not be alone. Claiming not to need connection…not the flex you think it is!
@@lisabraun6036 who said I was alone, I have my family & friends. I don’t need a partner to stroke my ego or take my money that I worked so hard for. I’m content with my “village” and I find other activities, classes or groups to engage with so I’m not bored.
What’s wrong with being alone? This story & others like it prove to me I’m fine with my life the way it is.
Lost my spouse 16 years ago. Never felt the need to give all my money away to someone I’ve never met in person because I needed “connection”.
Good for you. But don't shame others.
@@lisabraun6036 SPOT ON - Your response & words. Thank you.
Sorry for your loss may your mom Laura R.I.P. 🪦🙏🏿🪦
I am a woman and honestly speaking by the time I’m over 50 I will retire from dating, maybe even earlier.. when I no longer look good and no guys in real life of decent quality are asking me out I wont bother at all, Just concentrate on loving yourself and quality time with your family
Yep same here..I thought I wanted to date, but I'm good. There is a lot more to life than having a mate.
How could this happen to such a highly intelligent, educated, fairly young woman?
Easy. She volunteered.
My heart goes out to her daughter. It’s hard for good people to believe how many truly evil people there are in the world.
If anyONE says they love me at 12 days......I would run
Wow, Laura! So incredibly sorry for your loss!!!
This is a heartbreaking story……
How horrible! Scammers. 😡
Crazy this is terrible!
This is so tragic. Loniness is the root of it all.
Well it's greed and Love of Money that is taking advantage of the loneliness that is the problem
Everyone gets lonely at sometimes that's part of being human there's people that take advantage of it obviously
No it’s DESPERATION. And utter stupidity.
People who have been without a partner's love for years, or who just haven't dated in a long time are just unable to be in control of their hearts or understand warning signs.
Not true.
L take