How romance scam victims become unwitting accomplices

Jim Axelrod dives into the world of romance scams, showing how sometimes the victims can also become unwitting accomplices in the scammers' financial crimes.
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[@Wildivn]

The amount of bravery this took was INSANE. These people all had their lives in danger, but still decided to go through with the recovery for the sake of busting bad scammers. True respect *Strong widget!* If the FBI was half as dedicated and ingenious (and honest) as you guys are, the USA would be a much safer country. Amazing work!

[@fortunefestus7852]

Great work *Strongwidget* - so glad you are out there fighting these lowlifes. We need to do all we can to spare the elderly and the general public from these despicable scammers! Kudos to YOU!! You deserve the Nobel prize for keeping us safe big up brother.

[@brooklynchristopher7261]

You are the exemplification of "with great power comes great responsibility." You have this power and unlike these scumbags, you use it for good *STRONGWIDGET* I just found your page and have been completely enthralled! I love that you're exposing these thieves. I was wondering if these crooks ever go to jail or get fined. Do they? They should!!! Thank you for helping victims of these thieves. Dont stop!!

[@petramestric7120]

Hi *Strongwidget.* To all you guys (male and female) that work so hard, putting a stop to the scams you can stop. I Thank each and every one of you. Please keep up the great work and when I'm able to help you out financially, I most definitely will. In the meantime, keep the excellent help coming. In my mind, you're the best channel on KZbin by far. Many thanks from a true dedicated fan in the UK. Stay safe all. Thanks. Nicholas.

[@arthurgerardo9105]

Congratulations, you've outdone yourself. This video is one of the most impressive one-punch recovery moves I've seen in a while: the coding, the clickbait, the references from other channels/people... *Strong widget* just knows an opportunity to recover lost money when he sees one.

[@davisknoxchris3237]

The way you guys just remain humble & move behind the recommendation is how more people should move. You *Strong widget* deserve it all! This Helps people see how much of an angel Strong widget is. I'm proud of you man. The Main reason you inspire me to help people.

[@dfa3366]

Online dating is not dating. It’s online meeting. Dating is when you go to dinner or a movie or a weekend trip. Chatting with someone is not dating. I just do t understand how anyone can give money to someone they have never met in person.

[@sweetipie1995]

Wow i wouldnt even give money to my family let alone internet strangers🤦🏻‍♀️

[@choosey87]

When I did online dating during the pandemic, I realized immediately when a guy was trying to scam me. He asked me for funds stating he was in the military. I told him I was broke too and needed funds too. Eventually he gave up on trying to get me and blocked me 😂

[@lindaslattery8341]

STAY OFF OF DATING APPS AND WEBSITES!!!!

[@yvonneplant9434]

Why do people do this idiotic stuff?

[@emmawalton1849]

​@yvonneplant9434 Their lonely and looking for LOVE. It crosses all ages and professions!

[@adrianahlz1895]

Ummm.. I met my husband on Tinder

[@lindaslattery8341]

@@adrianahlz1895 good for you, I guess 🙄

[@gabethedinosaur95]

Dating app are now dangerous. Social media and dating sites and apps should be banned forever. What kind of world am I seeing now . This is so wrong and disgusting. This is why I rather meet a woman in real life not a computer.

[@rule1624]

Oh my gosh!!! Ladies do your research!!’ Anytime anyone ask for money !!! It’s fake!!! The online dating websites need to be held accountable as well!’

[@KCNwokoye]

The women need to be held accountable for dishing out their life savings to attract a rich and handsome prince charming online. That's the only thing they can control. Giving away huge cash online to a stranger. Don't ever give cash to any online lover no matter what they say.They paid to keep the fake love and attention. They paid not to lose the love and attention. They paid to feel special. They each didn't have to pay a dime. They kept the schemes going. But they did. These scam artists didn't have to put a gun to their heads to get the money. They simply asked and these women gave it all away because they were lonely and desperate for someone to love them so they paid for it. It is painful and difficult but it is the simple truth. I have a family member who was a victim/accomplice. She was selfish, secretive, and greedy. She gave away not just her own money but other people's money as well.

[@codefinity]

💯 F those dating apps. It’s 👍 the 🆕 🚬 - causes ‘cancer.’

[@Maxesther-hm6cs]

I extend a heartfelt salute to you, *Strongwidget,* for your relentless efforts in aiding scam victims. These despicable scammers deserve to face public exposure and humiliation for their actions. They have no rightful place in our world. Sir, your exceptional work has our unwavering support. May you and your associates continue to wield great power in this fight. We stand by you from Dalry, England. More power to you!

[@Retsailor88]

Public service announcements from the government and the media should be broadcast, cautioning people against falling for love scams and prize money scams.

[@catpax6075]

Stay safe everyone

[@user-zk2se5pw2h]

I met a Woman named ERICA BOATENG, from Ghana 🇬🇭 AFRICA 🌍 She turned out to be a scammer from Ghana 🇬🇭

[@carolr7823]

I find it hard to believe that these people didn't know they were committing crimes. Why would you set up fake stuff?

[@gdolly166]

Don't give any money to anyone you know or don't know.

[@Blue2crows]

Stupidity has no limits

[@juliethompson8685]

Neither does cruelty.

[@racpatrice]

My heart breaks for victims of these crimes especially elderly, lonely people who simply may not be aware this happens 😔. Last year I started talking to someone online and he tried love bombing me within the first month of us chatting which was the first red flag for me...eventually after six months of chatting he asked me for money. That was all I needed to know. I told him NO. He called me for the first time after I told him no (because we only messaging before, he always had an excuse as to why we couldn't do video calls or talk on the phone), and I heard his Africian accent, he was trying hard to hide it to make himself sound like a native American 😂. I called him out for being a scammer and blocked him. Anytime they ask for money say hell no!!!!

[@Rosskent-kq9eu]

Thank you all for ur tremendous efforts...India and Indians will forever remain Grateful to *Strongwidget* since we are tired of these sick type of people who Cheat and loot others of their hard earned money. Thanks once again and we wish u success in many such more efforts....

[@Jo_hnJ-osh-ef6hg]

Your content is awesome, and seeing someone who has 9k customers, and do something good for people who has less, makes *Strongwidget* just feel so happy in side. I am glad someone like you could do something so kind for people who don't have as much.

[@KCNwokoye]

These women are not victims. Each of them knew that this fake love affair was not real. They are not babies. These are grown women who are so desperate for love that they would pay huge sums of money to attract a man they have never met. They paid to be loved. That's the sad news. Each of these women ruined their life for greed and get-love-quick. She should be angry with her mom for chasing after something that is not real at the expense of everything and everyone. She was chasing after a handsome price charming who is handsome and rich and will come and make her boring and lonely life less boring and lonely. They paid to be loved. They would never advise their children to do this. When something is done in secret, when you cannot tell your friends and family then you know it is definitely fake. Who in their right mind tells their children to pay someone 1 million dollars to love them? Who in their right mind tells their child: Hey pay some man you've never met on the internet half a million dollars to come be with you? They each knew this was a scam but like any addict, they just kept paying just to feel that thrill and excitement, that rush of dopamine of fast love that is neither lasting or real. I am sorry for the devastation it has caused in each of their lives. Lonely and desperate women looking for love in all the wrong places should be the title of this video. This is how this scam will be stopped. There will always be scammers when there are women or men looking for an unrealistic love affair with a handsome and rich business man. When women stop seeking these unrealistic men they will pay for on the internet, then the scammers will go get another job.

[@ShannonsBibleStudy]

The scammers sought out naive and lonely women to exploit and take advantage of.

[@amie6085]

Hindsight is 20/20.

[@juanitajones6900]

They were victims.

[@Grah__amPKath-leen1]

I will keep on supporting people like you *Strongwidget* because i hate scammers! I hate people who dont like to work but keep on taking advantage of the vulnerable population!!!!

[@user-ux8ki6yd3k]

Bravo, WORLDCYBERTEAM. I’m so glad you’re out there fighting these scumbags. We must do everything in our power to protect the elderly and the general public from these despicable scammers. You’re a true hero, ✊

[@paulchezkari6952]

Please go to your local shelter and adopt a rescue dog.

[@JudithGonzales-yc2vfdggvs]

You and your team and your associates are absolute legends. Thanks so much for the work that you've all been doing *Strongwidget.* Keep up with the great work, you've been doing!! Thank you for saving and protecting millions of Americans from this heartless people... 😔 What comes around, goes around!!!!! Let them have it!! God bless your heart for helping us the victims..🙏🏻🥰❤

[@loreneaustin5304]

Goshen was in on it. I hope they find out the truth. I thought it was going to be a week of several stories, but everyday it's a re-edit of Laura Kowal.

[@mommynab]

Of course she was, so was Laura. They were all breaking the law. The question is, was Gosha set up because she was stupid enough for fall in love and a Nigerian scammer then do his dirty work. The layers run deep like a ponzi scheme using America's desperate need to love and attention. Unfortunately if this girl's mom was alive, sounds like she would be on trial too. Creating fake corporations, wow.

[@ElviraSalo_hansal]

I wish there was more people like you to stop all these scammers, they need serious jail time for that, especially when they take money from the elderly, keep doing what your doing *strongwidget* put the wind up these low life oxygen thiefs Love what you quys do keep up the great work mate well done Respect

[@w3s77]

Greed, oure and simple. The "victims" are just greedy scumbags.

[@weldinggirl]

Wow Kelly I’m happy you put your moms story out for the world to see and help others, but you MUST get yourself help for the anger you have, I couldn’t imagine im sure it’s easier for me to say than you to do, but the anger will not help your mom or your daughter, so if you can or believe in it, whenever you are ready please go talk to someone it will help, may your mom rest in peace I’m really sorry for your loss….

[@elenaarman-tang7811]

I'm confused. Was Kelly's mom murdered or did she commit suicide?

[@mopes2713]

Wow people are such suckers. It’s so sad that people don’t have the mental discipline to not fall for this stuff.

[@jawsbond69]

Scammers don't care about damn victims....very cruel

[@Fred-yd9md]

Dumbest among us

[@AmericanTeacher-USA]

Desperation.

[@luciboras]

Corporations has become are too big to care.

[@lorrainea.285]

So her mom didn’t have a mind of her own??????????????????🙄

[@dj_bae]

I feel for these “victims” truly, especially the ones who meet an untimely end, but I wouldn’t go so far as to say they’re unwitting accomplices. Somewhere along the line of money laundering, transfers, etc. they knew they were up to something sketchy. No doubt the scammers told them to keep it hush hush because of the issues with legality. The victims had to know that there was a level of law breaking with the actions they were taking, but that it was justified to them because they were breaking the law in the name of love. That’s criminal activity whether you want to admit it or not. Women who aid and abet their drug dealer boyfriends also go to prison, we don’t view them as victims even if they were blinded by love.

[@open3256]

Are we supposed to feel sorry?

[@Novastar.SaberCombat]

Stay classy, humanity. Keep on destroyin' one another. That'll get you what you need once you cross beyond the void veil.

[@LawandOrder-fi5xk]

They did it to themselves by being dumb and naive.

[@ShannonsBibleStudy]

The scammer sought out dumb and naive women to take advantage of.

[@SarahRenz59]

@LawandOrder-fi5xk That's a very callous attitude. As I like to say, just because someone has a "Kick Me" sign on their back doesn't mean you put on your steel toed boots and start whaling away! We should be looking out for the vulnerable souls amongst us. My question: Where are the banks in all this? They have software that tracks their customers' deposit and withdrawal (spending) patterns. I know this because my bank has contacted me and/or froze my debit card because I made purchases that didn't fit into my usual spending pattern. Banks should institute a voluntary program allowing customers to designate a fraud alert buddy (ie, a trusted family member or long term friend). If the bank sees a customer's balance dropping precipitously, they can alert the customer and their buddy. The buddy can then try to get to the bottom of what's going on.

[@bobbobertson7568]

@@SarahRenz59 Those programs by the banks are a nice touch but ultimately it's on the ADULT to look out for themselves and avoid scams. If they don't have the IQ point to do this well that's a shame but you need to take it up with God or Mother Nature.

[@2cupojoe136]

Online dating felt safer. What’s wrong with your feelings?

[@ShannonsBibleStudy]

Dating coaches that tell women they are low value are grooming women to be easy targets for scams.

[@Wildivn]

The amount of bravery this took was INSANE. These people all had their lives in danger, but still decided to go through with the recovery for the sake of busting bad scammers. True respect *Strong widget!* If the FBI was half as dedicated and ingenious (and honest) as you guys are, the USA would be a much safer country. Amazing work!

[@brooklynchristopher7261]

You are the exemplification of "with great power comes great responsibility." You have this power and unlike these scumbags, you use it for good *STRONGWIDGET* I just found your page and have been completely enthralled! I love that you're exposing these thieves. I was wondering if these crooks ever go to jail or get fined. Do they? They should!!! Thank you for helping victims of these thieves. Dont stop!!

[@petramestric7120]

Hi *Strongwidget.* To all you guys (male and female) that work so hard, putting a stop to the scams you can stop. I Thank each and every one of you. Please keep up the great work and when I'm able to help you out financially, I most definitely will. In the meantime, keep the excellent help coming. In my mind, you're the best channel on KZbin by far. Many thanks from a true dedicated fan in the UK. Stay safe all. Thanks. Nicholas.

[@davisknoxchris3237]

The way you guys just remain humble & move behind the recommendation is how more people should move. You *Strong widget* deserve it all! This Helps people see how much of an angel Strong widget is. I'm proud of you man. The Main reason you inspire me to help people.

[@DebraPatrick-ok7szhJajs]

Great work *Strongwidget* - so glad you are out there fighting these lowlifes. We need to do all we can to spare the elderly and the general public from these despicable scammers! Kudos to YOU!! You deserve the Nobel prize for keeping us safe big up brother.

[@ArtemKorzhavingwhwuhw]

The amount of bravery this took was INSANE. These people all had their lives in danger, but still decided to go through with the recovery for the sake of busting bad scammers. True respect *Strong widget!* If the FBI was half as dedicated and ingenious (and honest) as you guys are, the USA would be a much safer country. Amazing work!