Know this is a romance scam but can someone explain the end game?

spitonmedickie · 05-09-2021 4:28pm #1

A relative (60s) has been online dating and is now messaging a woman who says she's a millionaire (inherited from dead parents) while working on an oil rig offshore. She sent him flowers and chocolates and now wants him to email her lawyer so the next big cheque is sent to him for safekeeping. Then when the meet he can pass on the cheque. I know it's a scam, he's 99% sure it's a scam but anyone know what the denouement is, how do they get his cash etc? He has assured me that apart from the address (for the flowers) he's not given much more personal info away...

mistress_gi · 05-09-2021 4:39pm

I assume she will ask for a portion of the money to be sent her as soon as the cheque arrives. No doubt required because of some sort of emergency.

Then the check will bounce and your friend is stuck with the debt.

05-09-2021 4:48pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117850101#Comment_117850101

That's it, and the amount needed for the 'emergency ' will only be a

a fraction ( usually 3-5%) of the " big" cheque. It's an old scam with a couple of updates/ refinements over the years but, be in NO doubt, it IS a con.

'Whilst working on an oil rig offshore'------- haha-------- that is so 'low level' cringe..........enjoy the fliewrs & chocies

GetWithIt · 05-09-2021 4:58pm

Stop trying to figure it out. All that will achieve is justifying the 1% (actually 0%) chance this isn’t a scam. It’s treating both outcomes as if they somehow have equal merit.

Del2005 · 06-09-2021 10:32am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058207488/know-this-is-a-romance-scam-but-can-someone-explain-the-end-game

When you lodge a cheque the money shows in your account after a few days, the scam is that the money isn't actually lodged to your account till the bank where the cheque was drawn from gets the physical cheque and releases the funds this can take from a few days to much longer. The person will then ask for some money to be wired/transferred to them a few days after you lodge the cheque and the money is showing in your account, but as the cheque is fake the funds will never be released from the issuing bank so you've lost whatever money you sent.

Wheety · 16-09-2021 1:45pm

Were they nice chocolates?

joe40 · 16-09-2021 1:54pm

String them along, you might get more chocolates out of it...

endofrainbow · 25-09-2021 2:44pm

He's already given personal info : name and address...

25-09-2021 2:48pm

Money laundering?

HildaOgdenx · 26-09-2021 8:03am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117852574#Comment_117852574

Yes, this is likely what is going on. The fraudster sends a cheque, then requests money, on some excuse or other. 'The oil rig needs a revamp'... the person being defrauded sends the money. Bear in mind that cheques drawn abroad can take a long time to clear.

The cheque that they originally received bounces extremely high. The fraudster moves on to their next victim.

dudley72 · 26-09-2021 8:19am

Have a bit of fun, say you wil be a millionaire soon as you are doing a deal worth millions with a Nigerian price

Know this is a romance scam but can someone explain the end game?

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