[tonyz]

A slightly different story with a warning re the Internet - but it fits in this thread - A friend of mine begged me to to call his niece (a 40something divorcee who is otherwise successful - but took the marriage breakup very hard and subsequently developed serious health issues) and asked me to try and talk some sense into her about lending/giving money to a Nigerian national (Nigerian Sweet-talker #1).

I know, I said the same thing...does anyone really fall for these Nigerian scam things...

She was in tears during our talk, acknowledged that the "relationship" could be a scam but she said she fell in love with the dude. He (Nigerian Sweet-Talker #1) actually admitted to her that their "relationship" started as a scam but then it "evolved..."

She told me (and asked me not to tell her uncle) that she had visited the guy overseas. His "cousin" (Nigerian Sweet-Talker #2) is located in the US and visits the middle aged divorcee to reinforce the Nigerian Sweet-talker #1's undying love.

These predators prey on the needy, the broken and the weak (no offense intended to the victims of this fraud).

When confronted with various reports on similar scams...her only response was "I know but..."

My friend is beside himself - these are mature folks - the niece is fully independent and capable of making her own decisions and even took care of her dying mother...then the marriage ended...then her own illness which kept her indoors for a year or so...on the computer...

I do not know if FB was specifically used in this instance - as she merely told me they communicated via the Internet.

The Internet is wonderful for most folks but for many it opens the path for long distance predators. I would not have believed that an otherwise sane and relatively successful individual could be so easily fooled...but there it is...

The vulnerable might benefit from a little family oversight/attention when they are particularly vulnerable and online.

BryanK I hope your friend sues and wins...BT.