An innocent post on a cat lovers page led to Marilyn Ayres losing almost $200,000 to the elaborate scam, which is using stolen photos of a handsome photographer to swindle women across the globe.
Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time.When Melbourne retiree Marilyn Ayres posted a poem on a social media site for fellow cat lovers, she could never have imagined it would eventually cost her $200,000.
She feels humiliated, but wants to warn potential victims of the dangers of responding to seemingly harmless online posts.“You would think at my age I’d know better,” Ayres said. “But it’s almost like I ignored the red flags and suspended reality. I allowed myself to be sucked in by this man.” The scammers appear to target their victims, who are usually over 50 and single, and often members of social media sites dedicated to animals.The bogus profiles used to coax potential victims are carefully curated and typically involve a middle-aged man who is divorced or whose wife has died under tragic circumstances. He will claim to be a professional with significant wealth, but a temporary liquidity problem.
He soon confided in Ayres that his wife and eldest daughter had been killed in a car crash about eight years ago, leaving him to raise two other children, while also working for an international construction firm. “I will not lie to you Marilyn my love, I’m really tired of loneliness. I just can’t wait to meet you in person and look straight into your eyes ... please find a place in your heart to accept me,” Edward posted on June 19.
In an attempt to persuade Ayres of his bona fides, Edward provided her with a copy of a fake Illinois driver’s licence with Levy’s photograph and fraudulent bank statements and emails from the Asian Development Bank. There was also a bogus contract to repay the loan co-signed by a fictitious lawyer.
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