How can I know it is genuine?
By babsy07
@babsy07 (13)
Fiji
January 18, 2007 8:47pm CST
I have been contacted by someone through an internet dating site, and ask me to give my contact. The person said that both her parents have passed away in a traffic accident some months back, and she was devasted over their death and as a result she pulled out from school. Now she is trying to recollect pieces together and moved on in life. She saw my profile and contacted me because she wanted to relocate to my country. She also disclose to me that she inherited a significant sum of money and would like me to help her to get a visa to my part of the world and identify a good business which she could successfully invested her money in. I've heard alot about SCAMs and all those kind of stuff and would like to get ideas from you guys how I would find out if this request is not another scam or bogus. She sound genuine, but professional conpeople are good in make believe stories. Any advise?? Thank you
4 people like this
55 responses
@aiguy01 (588)
• United States
19 Jan 07
Tell her that you identify an immigration lawyer for her.
And he can advise her step by step and gude her through the process.
Tell her the lawyer will know how to do everything correctly minimize her wait time and maximize her likelyhood that everything will go smoothly.
After she gets here then you can help her identify a financial planner to invest her money and then help her determine what type of business she is interested in.
At no time give her your bank account number to transfer funds into or credit card numbers.
That should keep you safe. If she is a scam artist she will try to convince you that she does not need a lawyer.
2 people like this
@rameshgopal365 (918)
• India
19 Jan 07
Nothing is real in 'online' other than some few things.
beware.......look before jump!
@nw1911guy (1131)
• United States
19 Jan 07
It's a complete scam. Likely, much like the Nigerian scam, she would just send you a check and then want you to hand cash to someone here. Then you'd be out the money because the check was bad. Or something similarly ridiculous.
1 person likes this
@missybal (4490)
• United States
19 Jan 07
Sounds like a scam to me, and really even if it is true she is an idiot to ask someone she doesn't know to help her get to another country to "start over". However if you chose to help her don't do it with money or by marring her for her to get that visa. Find the information she needs to do it herself.
1 person likes this
@rachelcaron (1679)
• United States
19 Jan 07
This really sounds like a scam to me. It is such a shame. She may be genuine, but unfortunately there are so many scammers that have ruined the innocence of people. It would be a shame if it was real, but honestly, if it was me, I wouldn't fall for it.
@master_ang3lkulit (271)
• Philippines
19 Jan 07
shes right you know. why she or he contacted her. she have the money right why she ask for help for somebody you don't know. very obvious that it's a scam.
@cheenlly (3476)
• Philippines
19 Jan 07
my advice ignore it because its one of the scam. Dont be fooled. Thats another scam beside those nigerian scam. That one is like investing your money and get interest in one year and you will really believe because you will receive money but without knowing that the money that was deposited from your is from other people that was fooled and then one day you without knowing all that money is gone and when all those people report to authorities and they trace up up the account and found it was yours and you will be the one to jail. Its just a trap at first. I forgot the story but its something close like that. So then dont bother to get attention on that some kind of scam. Ignore it and dont be fooled.
@marief2rnurse (2704)
• United States
19 Jan 07
Sounds like a scam to me.
Are you looking for a girl in your life?
I'm single and honest. Wanna get to know me? I'm tired of games so serious replies only please.
ethannadine@yahoo.com
1 person likes this
@scorpius (1792)
• India
19 Jan 07
you are right in being careful.it is always advisable to be careful.if you really believe in this oerson theres no harm in requiring a little bit of proof from her.that sadi i thnk tht you can always do a bit of research on your own and find out about all the scams.i have given some of the links below please go through them adn find out for yourself.that said it always pays to be careful.
http://home.rica.net/alphae/419coal/
http://www.scambusters.org/
http://www.snopes.com/crime/fraud/nigeria.asp
@illumina_foxz (125)
• Thailand
20 Jan 07
this could be a scam.. very very possible.
I wouldn't really take this offer at all.. you know..
but if you insist on taking it.. then.. you might want to let her transfer an amount of money to you first.. let it sit in your bank.. and make sure it's enough for the process... then you can help her..
but ... rest assured.. I think it is a scam
@babsy07 (13)
• Fiji
19 Jan 07
Thank you so much all those of you who have responded to this discussion. I kind of skeptical when I received this email, and now that I read all your responses I quite convinced that it is a scam. This girl told me that she inherited 7.5 million from her late father, and if I help her to get a visa to come to my country and help her to invest, she will give me 25 percent of that money.......this may sound too good to be true, but inside me something is telling me that this is a scam. Thank you all for confirming my thoughts.
1 person likes this
@exponents (65)
• United States
20 Jan 07
It sounds like she just wants a green card or money. She'll most likely ask for money to help relocate and then you'll find out that she really didnt exist to begin with and it was nothing more than a scam.
@jessmtiu (251)
• Philippines
19 Jan 07
Why don't you just try dating someone who you see everyday, at work or school? Why do you have to go online to meet someone? I don't have anything against this practice, but I just find the old-fashioned way of meeting someone and dating better and more convenient. Ü
@babsy07 (13)
• Fiji
21 Jan 07
I do agree with you. I really don't know myself why I registered on this dating site, just for curiousity I guess. But yes, I have never made any prior contact with this girl. THe first email she sent, she asked for me to help.......I do agree and appreciate all the advises given by you lot. Thanks alot.
@classyphotobuggy (647)
• United States
21 Jan 07
I'm with most everyone else here, this is a scam, and I would run as far and as fast as you possibly can! If she has that much money, she wouldn't need anyone else's help to relocate, obtain a visa, start a business, etc. How you find out if it really truly is a scam or not? I'd say trust your instinct. If it looks like a rat, runs like a rat, smells like a rat, then it is a rat. Don't let yourself get hooked into it. I'm sure you work hard for your money and don't want to lose it quickly to yet another scam artist. Change your email addy and profile where she found you. She'll find someone else quick enough and you'll be a distant scam thought in her memory...lol Sorry for being so blatantly honest. :-)
@Mecboy (1050)
• United States
19 Jan 07
Give her a chance, Try to have a friendshp, im pretty sure what she is saying is truthful.
@Hipponater (262)
• United States
19 Jan 07
That sounds kinda' fishy... If you were really looking for someone you probably wouldn't tell that to a complete stranger, making it seem pretty suspicious. I'd have to say its a scam, its just way too fishy.
@incomes1987 (156)
• Nicaragua
19 Jan 07
Ok, friend. Let me tell you taht i have received emails like that too. I have listened that stories many times. Even one time i chated with a man, with an story almost like that and he even offers me to pay me for the airticket to travel to his country and take the money and that we go 50-50. well, almost, the most of them comes from the africa continent. I wouldn't really recommend you to do it, cause i have listened that it's very dangerous, that's why i have never proceed to none of this thngs. So pelase be carefull
@arthenium (104)
• Philippines
20 Jan 07
as long as your not spendin money for her, i guess you could help her... but there's also a possibility that she's not after your money, maybe just the visa, but still, if she is after the visa, she might be using you to get one... all i could say is be very cautious if you intend to help her... use ur instinct!
