https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXZlhmljfTU?rel=0
Ohio — This wasn’t the love sick a local man had envisioned. After a painful divorce, he tried his hand at online dating.
“I was devastated. I was traumatized. Couldn’t sleep,” he says of the experience now.
He met Kira Perkins on Zoosk.com, who was serving in the Air Force. Over several months, through email, texts and social media, their relationship grew. He thought it was the real deal.
“I was attracted to her,” he said. “But then the photos … I find out those aren’t really her.”
Kira was a catfish, who asked him to finance her leave from active duty in Nigeria. She then asked him to help pay medical bills for her sick mother and later made up a story about a massive inheritance she needed cash to claim.
While he was in it for love, this was for money. Nearly $40,000 worth.
The AG’s office shared these tips:
Excuses scammers use when asking for money:
— Travel costs to visit
— Military leave
— Family member is sick or needs an operation
— Inherited a lot of money but money needed to access the inheritance
— Business trip/stuck at customs
Tips for consumers:
— Don’t send money to someone you meet online.
— Even if you have developed a relationship with this person, don’t send any money unless and until you have met the individual in person.
— Don’t send money via wire transfer or prepaid money card.
— These are preferred payment methods for scammers.
— Don’t assume someone is who they claim to be online.
— Just because you meet someone on a Christian dating website doesn’t mean that person is truly a Christian and/or trustworthy. Do your own research on the person.
— Don’t be embarrassed if you’ve fallen for a sweetheart scam.
— You are not alone, and these con artists often spend a lot of time and energy to develop relationships with their victims.
— Report scams to the Ohio Attorney General’s Office at 1-800-282-0515 or www.OhioAttorneyGeneral.gov