Jailed for Love: Why Utah woman who says romance scammer turned her into an unwitting money mule

A Utah woman thought she found love through a dating site but what she did for love could land her in jail.
ksltv.com/473126/jailed-for-l...

[@cloakofanonymity]

The minute ANYONE on a dating site asks you for money, it's a scam. No if's and's or but's- they are trying to scam you.

[@princesswarren-bailey9766]

Big Factssssssssss

[@hermanrogers1325]

Yep that’s right they will scam you and your family and friends all with your help and only you will go to jail

[@videorocketzmillar007milla5]

Yep

[@bigcoop3717]

Not just dating sites, Snapchat is the worse one for scammers

[@alext8020]

Ifs, ands, or buts***

[@ChrisAndCats]

How is it unwitting? Im 58 and it's obvious to me that moving money for someone youve never met is money laundering. Never ever do it.

[@mildredpierce4506]

She may not have known it was money laundering but it still makes no sense to do it. why would a grown man need me to open up accounts for him? He needs to open his own accounts.

[@631rosie]

It’s getting harder to have any sympathy for these women

[@LK-pc4sq]

Tens of thosuands of woman in Uk, USA,Canda and Europe are falling for these scams. My mom got hit for 20k. Thank god I saw she was gettign scammed and I put her in my car and we raced to the bank!

[@isay207]

They are the gigolos client

[@jasonnelson6624]

How many woman get with men just for there money? Which they get through divorce. Yet we should be sympathetic to every woman who loses money or gets fooled.

[@yellowbird5411]

Not just women, men too.

[@willissudweeks1050]

@@isay207No they aren’t because then they’d actually be having sex from spending the money.

[@christinebeames712]

Nothing like opening a restaurant in your old age

[@videorocketzmillar007milla5]

How can u fall in love with someone u never met? Come on people. Enough

[@naebonnie]

I don’t think people fall in love they get love bombed. So they start believing that they are.

[@levelintent]

It is entirely, entirely possible. Men fall in love with what they SEE. Women fall in love with what they HEAR.

[@texastea5686]

@@levelintent 💥 boom 👊 💥

[@germanshepherd6638]

Autism

[@brooklynglasscock4503]

A million dollar for someone you never meet in person

[@nothingworksworks3511]

They're so addicted to a fanstasy- they believe they've already met?

[@acrocks6893]

When you're on a dating app and you're talking for a while with whoever all of a sudden money gets mentioned block them immediately!!!!!!!!!!

[@ascensionvaldes1412]

these women are willing to give away money to the first man that tells them they are beautiful🤦🤦

[@bojonsson2363]

She ought to invest in buying a mirror. That could perhaps give her a clue on why the scammer says she is so beautiful.

[@giovannidubon4887]

She said enough after that much money went though her account? You open a business with someone you haven't met?

[@msjujuz266]

Exactly. How did this woman survive till adulthood, being this ridiculously gullible!!

[@muskndusk]

@@msjujuz266 Romance scammers love bomb you to make you feel totally loved. They also suss out if you have close family and live alone, so they know who is a likely victim. I listen to romance scammer baiters sometimes when I'm painting and it's easy to see how women get drawn in. Other romance scammers are terrible, obviously sticking to a script and not answering any questions the woman asks. I recommend listening to youtubers who bait scammers, especially romance scammers to anyone who is internet dating, or even on social media (many contact victims via Facebook.)

[@Arizona_lilly]

Silly 😂

[@frodopatronusbaby]

i think this article downplays the situation the scam victims themselves to make the situation seem less threatening. Saying you lose a little time, losing a little money, people in romance scams don't lose a little money, they can lose their life savings! The woman in the news story was facing 5-10 years in prison for being caught up in the scam, which sounds horrible for a older person who's just had their heartbroken as well!

[@donnagelina8548]

Ignorance of the law is not a defense

[@frodopatronusbaby]

@@donnagelina8548 I dunno don't you think that kind of attitude could hurt more than it helps?

[@cheapcraftygirlsweepstakes2338]

She deserves prison time.

[@frodopatronusbaby]

@@cheapcraftygirlsweepstakes2338 The system that let's these types of situation happen is the problem. The real scam victims are like people who have been inducted into a cult...they aren't all there psychologically. Society needs to be more understanding with these people.

[@willissudweeks1050]

@@donnagelina8548In some cases it should be.

[@channelthree9424]

You do not open yourself up to a person you have not met in person

[@levelintent]

These scammers have a true gift. Imagine what could be done if they used this gift for good... world hunger could probably be solved or there would be more foster homes for abused children to go to

[@AbdalMalik-ye1df]

telling an old hag she is beautiful to get her money is not actually some genius level gift. you absolute tool

[@mildredpierce4506]

I value my money too much to risk it on someone I’ve never met. I don’t even go to casinos or buy lottery tickets. I Don’t co-sign for anyone either including family members.

[@giovannidubon4887]

One more thing, that's a generous plea deal for being that naive.

[@San_Be]

We know to teach small children about stranger danger. Now we have to teach our parents, siblings and friends NOT to send/receive money from strangers on the internet.

[@willissudweeks1050]

They already know not to. They are just so dumb and stubborn they don’t think it’s happening to them when it obviously is.

[@kil-roy]

"I'm not sending any more money til you gimme the d" -Here, he falls silent

[@seawomancreativemedia8117]

This is extremely serious and sad but this comment killed me!

[@leahgurira2516]

😂😂😂

[@atlfun08]

Yessssssssees

[@julieannesimms6236]

Can,t believe people are still falling for this crap!!!

[@sandrad8640]

Really its unbelievable

[@AbdalMalik-ye1df]

they are women.. what do you expect. they got duped by a serpent. A SERPENT.... they got duped by a serpent

[@jupiter-8405]

She seemed sweet natured and I felt sympathy for her, you have to be on guard though for there are many bad people out there.

[@texastea5686]

I'm married. But if, God forbid, we'd divorce or there'd be a death I'm so glad I'm happy and comfortable to be by myself.

[@thisismyusername6717]

You say that. Have you ever been alone? If not i wouldnt say that. Ive just recently started dating again. Been single since i was 17 bc of being cheated on so many times in a row i stopped trying. Im 27 now and if i was alone for another year or two i might would of killed myself bc of the alone feeling. I dont talk like that or tell anyone this stuff like somebody out for sympathy im just saying, being alone is great. Until you actually are.

[@acrocks6893]

Doesn't matter whether you're married or divorced the whole point is is this woman was so desperate for someone that she believed everything

[@christineoleary3862]

@@thisismyusername6717 I’ve been alone for ten years now. I divorced my ex-husband and started travelling alone. I’m now 70. I am NEVER as lonely as I was in my marriage. Loneliness comes and goes. There are worse things. It’s just the price we pay for our freedom.

[@thisismyusername6717]

@@DL-ep5uk i am a guy but the beginning of what you said is very true. I need more hobbies. I used to paintball but the one park within 100 miles closed a few years ago.

[@rocker76m88]

Same here 💯

[@melodyburt7068]

It's amazing how powerful sweet talk is. Real men that truly love,could learn from this and be more romantic

[@willissudweeks1050]

Haha it’s not even sweet talk it’s just “hello my queen” along with requests for money.

[@marciabrown2418]

And she didn’t think anything was wrong……not buying it.

[@Ron71997]

Reminder to everyone on one line dating....you've never met in person and yet they ask you for money. STOP - it's a scam- it's a scam.

[@luvlabso130]

Americans can be quite naive

[@Apexnotch_on]

I always enjoy the brief history lessons I get from these you guys. Since I haven't lived through any real recession, learning about the past is always eye-opening even for the situations we find ourselves in today. Great recovery *Brave notch* on the internet

[@armchaircritic4178]

The ex must be thrilled!

[@straycats6]

I have absolutely no sympathy for these women, none

[@rebeccarhodes6611]

Stay off dating websites , don't go to hangouts because that is were scammers can keep an eye on all their victims and talk to them as well.

[@maskgod7]

I don't understand how murderers get so little time in prison, while someone who got scammed has to face a lot of time in prison

[@willissudweeks1050]

Murderers usually get life. People who are scammed usually don’t get in any trouble. Do you just make up your own reality?

[@knux5796]

How do you just keep giving someone u havent even met face to face ur money? And covid isnt even a good excuse. Thats how u know someone has lived a sheltered privileged life cause personally, the first mention of anything money related wouldve made me instantly block the person

[@tedmorgan7002]

8/7/22 I have a friend that thinks she’s going to marry Stanley Tucci later this month. She’s sent this scammer over 30k so far. She gets angry at any suggestion that it’s a scam. I’m forced to let her crash.

[@deelite5176]

I guess she didn’t do her due diligence, he’s been married for several years. He’s actually married to Emily Blunt’s sister

[@christinecatt8039]

I wouldn't if l were her.. Stanley has stage 4 cancer ....not a good investment. 😢

[@lisamichellestiller6831]

I know a lady who was scammed by buying gift cards for a catfisher...she died in January and it was all discovered by her family.

[@LK-pc4sq]

A delta BC woman lost 3/4 of a million dollars and she was so stressed, she committed suicide.

[@rocker76m88]

That's so damb sad

[@monnikhan1000]

Come on use your brain ladies 🤦🏻‍♀️

[@AbdalMalik-ye1df]

lol asking women to use brain

[@cherrybarb4651]

Oh, please! You fall in love with pictures and texts on a screen from someone you've never met then open bank accounts and send money to a bunch of strangers and think it's all legit? No excuse for these desperate idiots.

[@missamanda2703]

Jailed for stupidity.

[@darkknight1340]

Where exactly is the justice in imprisoning a victim of manipulation by a criminal?.She did not knowingly commit any criminal acts,was she naive and stupid?,yes,but a criminal?,I would say no.

[@seawomancreativemedia8117]

But all those accts, wires and her signature on the chqs and then compound it by not reporting it to the bank right away... that's the problem right there.

[@darkknight1340]

@@seawomancreativemedia8117 Yes there are all of those acts,but would she have committed any type of offence like those if she had not been manipulated into doing so?.

[@seawomancreativemedia8117]

I am not saying I don't understand nor am sympathetic re the manipulation/ grooming - I am saying this is why viewed thru cold hard facts of the law and financially, she got in so much trouble. The banks get in trouble too if they don't take steps to shut it down.

[@isay207]

Ignorance of the law is no excuse

[@brianwaller7383]

I had someone try this on me. I said nope that’s money laundering. I’m not going to prison over a woman sorry then immediately blocked them

[@michealbaer4917]

Love comes with responsibility, and the two come with both❗

[@pinecedar180]

She knew what she was doing

[@hermanrogers1325]

There was no romance or romantic relationship she never hugged or kissed the man. She was just a puppet on a stupid string and now she knows that

[@isay207]

Its sexting shes paying for no different than the nightime hot lines

[@amysharma4972]

Bull crap these scammers are good leave her alone

[@Beegraham2569]

They always say :it can happen to anyone.. Nope it can't.. Which grown up people send money to complete strangers, they have not even spoken face to face..??? And they are right :just because you are gullible, you still get the punishment!!!

[@elizabethhuie563]

Generally, the scammer gets big bucks from the person. Like $20K, $50K. I have seen a few scams in which the person lost $250K.

[@rolo1955]

I never understand how a grown woman can let go of a million dollars to someone they have never met in person, and I am sure, so was the FBI!

[@TR-507]

A million!!?! Geez, I need to start doing this to make some side money. 🤦🏻‍♀️

[@susanstewart5194]

She knew she was being foolish. She should spend some time in jail as a learning experience so the dingo won't turn around and do it again.

[@keyshia406]

My only question to her would be. . . HOW MUCH DO LOVE COST????

[@isay207]

Why not just hire a male escort

[@muskndusk]

Anyone thinking of internet dating should first watch some videos from youtubers who bait romance scammers. My favourite is 'Romance Scammers and Online Scams' some of her videos are very entertaining while also informing.

[@gillmiller3702]

Also the Canadian Catfished.

[@doriskurzz1798]

Greed

[@mildredpierce4506]

Yep. Scammers always tell the mules to keep some of the money. She was benefiting from this and was getting money she did not work for.

[@linda01234567890]

Every commercial is stealing your data minutes. They take, never asked.

[@KrizzyBoi104]

"She did not" hahhahahahha

[@natashadickson4819]

The scams are getting more sophisticated.

[@PIA-tj5hc]

Never met🤷🏽‍♀️

[@sandreawhite7534]

How sad.

[@aabbaa1440]

Poor lady its sad to see people get scammed and its easy for the scammers to target the weak ones

[@WilliePizarro]

So so stupid , i hope she learned a $$$$$ lesson 😮 No body should NEVER trust a stranger they never met in person, i know i don't 😮

[@ermac6466]

Is he scared that she might eat him? Whys he standing so far?

[@ImaRockStarPR]

I thought the same thing. Maybe they were being obedient to the cause long after masks went out of style

[@deeteee1902]

So it can be against the law to be stupie

[@Sutterjack]

Hah - I have a lot of people who know me personally and love me dearly that won't give me money - lol

[@jeffking9202]

People have been running these kinds of scams on other people, literally, forever; the internet just makes it so much easier (and unbelievably more profitable) to do so. Scammers (called grifters) usually had to put a fair amount of effort into their schemes. It so easy, now, a child could do it---and many are.

[@strongfoot2009]

Jailed for Love: Why Utah woman who says romance scammer turned her into an unwitting money mule: this is a MISLEADING headline. This woman was jailed for helping a scammer and not because she was in love with a scammer. Get your facts straight!.

[@arfriedman4577]

please don't give your private information to strangers. no passwords, account numbers, etc. date where there's reputable people.

[@willissudweeks1050]

Lol she got arrested 😆

[@AngelaDubs-zi4vg]

I went through this

[@embitious630]

I just lose 40k. How to share my story? mine was a real person but he disappeared. he was trying to ask more money along with empty promises. He pretended like a successful business person but in reality he’s broke

[@muskndusk]

Scammers are everywhere.

[@johnthompson5409]

Hey Matt, My insurance company has been charging me double every month. Help

[@Arizona_lilly]

100%% he was a scammer disappear n she never went looking for answers these r guys in other countries... either your a mule.. using ur banks .. or using your money cashing u out 100%%%%%% SHES SMART... if u don't come.. LOL im done SOMEONE HAS TO PAY

[@violetsabrewing7938]

Omg 😱 wth Lady!!

[@Apex-def]

I'm super lucky being a friend to you *Brave notch on the internet* it really amaze me how you have showed to be honest and selflessness and also dedicated to your fabulous works on recovering of my funds back.

[@bobcat8654]

Isn't there more to this story

[@mildredpierce4506]

The purpose of going to a dating site is to go on a date. If you cannot go on a date, do not continue to communicate with the person. I have never been on a dating site but I would assume that you put a parameter as to where you would like your potential romance partner to be. Let’s say within 30 miles of where you live. If they’re not within 30 miles of where you live, do not continue to communicate with them because you cannot meet them in person. A little logic goes a long ways.

[@channelthree9424]

Common romance scammer tactics: They love bomb the victim with flattery. It doesn’t take them long to start calling the victim beautiful, queen, honey or baby. If there’s a big age gap between the victim and the age the scammer is using, they will always say “age is just a number“. Frequently their occupations are oil rig worker, doctor stationed in Yemen or Turkey, interior decorator. These are not the only occupations they claim to have. They are widowed, separated or divorced. They usually have a small child in a boarding school in a different country. If their spouse is dead, it’s usually something tragic like cancer or a car accident. If they are divorced, the ex spouse cheated on them with their best friend. They will claim their child is looking for a mother. At some point the child or the scammer’s parent is hospitalized and needs money for an operation. Scammers will frequently say they’re from America yet they do not understand the American medical system where you are treated first and pay later. You do not need to pay upfront to have an operation usually. Sometimes scammers claim to be the only one in the world. All their family is gone making the victim believe they are the only ones that could help them. Scammers pretend to be wealthy and will give the victim access to a fake bank account that shows millions of dollars (no rich person is going to give a total stranger access to their bank account). If the scammer claims to be working on an oil rig, they will claim that equipment has broken down and they need to buy new equipment and that’s where the victim comes in at (they claim to be on the oil rig but you can hear roosters in the background). During the grooming stage of the scam, besides flattering the victim constantly, they also get the victim involved in phone sex. Most victims are too embarrassed to admit to this especially if they’re elderly. This is one of the tactics scammers use to keep the victim emotionally tied to them plus they can use it as leverage if they need to blackmail the victim. Scammers will always mention three or four different countries: the country they’re born in, the country they were raised in, the country they were living in and the country that their job has sent them to. They give the most illogical reason why they sound Nigerian when they are supposed to have been raised in America. They will say that their one parent is from one country and another parent from another country and that’s why their accent doesn’t match the country they claim they were raised in. One scammer claims to have been raised in Germany but was forbidden to speak German that’s why he couldn’t speak German but his accent is Nigerian. The person who the scammer was trying to scam speaks German and this was the excuse he had given her as to why he couldn’t understand what she was saying. They come up with a new lie when the person they’re talking to speaks the language of the country the scammer said they are from. The scammer will take a victim off the platform they originally met on and ask them to go to WhatsApp, Google hangouts or telegraph. On Facebook, after accepting their friend request, they will start communicating through Messenger. If they can’t keep the conversation directly on Facebook for everyone to see, they are a scammer. Block them. One of the reasons victims are victims is not just because they’re not knowledgeable of scams or tech savvy, part of it is they’re not using logic. A 35 year old handsome man whose buff and can have his choice of any woman is not going to fall madly in love with a 75-year-old woman. Nor will some hot porn star looking woman (the pictures are usually those of porn stars) in her 20s is going to fall madly in love with some overweight guy with missing teeth who is old enough to be her father. Once a victim gives a scammer money, even if it’s a small amount, the scammer will give the victim’s name to other scammers. Those other scammers will contact the victim and the cycle starts over again. They start telling the victim how beautiful they are and how much in love they are with them leaving the victim thinking all of a sudden they have become desirable to all these men.

[@nathaliemargueritte4561]

Woooow....

[@serenityallen7032]

the music randomly playing in the middle of this is weird asf

[@d.renemorgan8848]

Truly the most annoying music I've ever heard in a newscast. I almost couldn't continue to listen to the whole story. Somebody needs to fix it

[@KevinShipe-tr2uk]

I was scammed did t send money for child support from a supposed 1 night stand they use kids to so be safe

[@RealityAlwaysWins]

The bit at the end makes no sense, who does she have to pay the money back to? she lost her own money not stole it herself.

[@cheapcraftygirlsweepstakes2338]

She’s a money launderer and a criminal.

[@bdud8694]

Who was her attorney?

[@CottonWoodBlues]

Reasonable person?? Talk to your Psychologist please about what scammers do to your mind!! I am never scammed by the three or four a week scammers I get on a dating site but the man I fell in love with was a co-worker and was a way bigger scammer than these idiots on a dating site could ever be. They could never fake love as good as this man did to me. But when I hear these stories, my heart goes out to these women. I know the deal being duped by a man you thought was sincere, just to find out that all the emotional, financial, and physical investment you just put into the 'happily ever after' relationship, just went out the window. And because of the sincere investment made in this relationship, I think that is why people like myself struggle with the aftermath.

[@Arizona_lilly]

Plea is good.. theres woman who lost or laughed der 100k 500k million then what more money paid back

[@RAralar]

Never send money

[@thankthelord4536]

The music is annoying.

[@w.urlitzer1869]

the law won.

[@carlosmark9840]

Should have stayed with her husband

[@markbrown5117]

NO one wants to be lonely

[@rocker76m88]

If people are that lonely they should do volunteer work at a nursing home or hospital to keep yourself busy and socialize.

[@ceciliapreziose3783]

why are you "opening up" to a stranger

[@Arizona_lilly]

1 million u better pay tax military good. U had million bucks passing threw but didn’t think to your self

[@leahgurira2516]

I am seeing a lot of comments about getting money back- these are scams as well !

[@mildredpierce4506]

You are 100% correct

[@buddyLove722]

why are they not charging the guy thats doing the dirt ?

[@hannahw4769]

He is in Nigeria.

[@josie9583]

He's in Nigeria. Their country encourages the behavior and they don't face legal charges

[@gillmiller3702]

Unless the scammer is in the country there is nothing they can do.

[@kenmorgan316]

Okay, Here we go again y'all! Attention Rich old women and men!! Download any picture of the person who you dream about. Send me money. And I will pretend to be them. I will call you honey, sweetness, handsome or gorgeous. At least your money stays in America 🇺🇲🇺🇸.

[@ADAMSMITH-ov1nh]

MITNICKTRIX your dedication and honesty is awesome. You are one of a kind. You succeeded in making sense of it to the world. Keep the good work moving..

[@channelthree9424]

You are a scammer

[@carlkuna4544]

It is time the congress to pass a bill limiting money to be sent outside. The bill should specifically state that the banks, money transfer agencies form should specifically ask the sender if he (she) knows the receiver. If the person does not know or have never meet the person, the bank or money transfer company should have the obligation to not accept the transfer, otherwise, they will be responsible to reimburse if it is found later to be a scam. It is time to serve these old people.

[@Chris-qf5do]

I've sent money over seas and I was questioned about my relationship with the person, as in how long I've known them, how I knew them and then on the receiving end, they had to verify their identity and answer a code question. So there are safeguards in place. They are just being ignored.

[@carlkuna4544]

@@Chris-qf5do If we can still have and see all this messy scams, including vulnerable people (old) being scamed their entire serving, it means the security measures for money transfer have to be reviewed, and find a way to improve them.

[@leahgurira2516]

Those things are in place and remit companies can refuse uou service if they suspect you’re being scammed , however, these people will find other ways to send , it’s like an addiction

[@DavidKen878]

Why is it always women who fall for these scams?

[@gillmiller3702]

It isn’t always women though.

[@mildredpierce4506]

Men get scammed too. And it’s usually an old creepy man who thinks some young hot chick young enough to be his granddaughter wants his old decrepit body.

[@tedmorgan7002]

Drew needs a toupee

[@rebeccaabel4589]

You have to love Jehovah God first and love yourself. Loneliness low self esteem the be loved to find romantic love drives people to irrational decisions

[@user-zq4wq4in7s]

The time and efforts you poured into this outstanding piece of works is incomparable. Please accept my gratitude! You are a highly effective, organized, and results-driven individual *Apexdeft* . Thank vou for all the extra time and effort you put in to complete this projects. I am appreciative of your entire endeavor. Thank you for successfully completing the task

[@patrickreith1944]

I feel bad for her; seems like a sweet girl, but how do u fall in love with someone you’ve never met? Her former husband must not have been too special. And I’m not trying to be mean, but c’mon. Sometimes you gotta use your head n not just your heart.

[@albertharris2306]

My exwife doing this right now

[@albertharris2306]

@AB I told her it a scam but she doesn't care. She in love with him. She gonna end up in jail.

[@blue_6887]

No she broke the law. Ignorance isn’t an excuse

[@germanshepherd6638]

Not really no.

[@stanley7390]

She is brave to tell her story to the world. I recognized such a scam myself, the scammers spend a lot of time building trust and connections, 6months precisely, well I didn’t lose my money as *Grindtechiei* was there to help me recoup it back.

[@victoriasotty5358]

Thanks for doing this awareness. I got to know about money get back when i encountered a scam.Recovery is not always easy but with the right source it is definitely achievable. It takes about 4/5 days to complete the process, sometimes it depends on how fast your agent is, for me it was the *GrindTechiei* and it only took 2 days to complete and my money was back to my bank, because I deleted my wallet during the whole scenario as I don’t want anything to do with crypto anymore!.

[@Bravenotchhh]

I'm so glad you can do these crypto recoveries, thanks *Bravenotch on the internet* for getting mine back you are indeed incredibly awesome with your amazing skill l, I wish they are many others who had a beautiful heart like you to join forces to help those victims suffering to put an end to scams online. They get so mad. It's almost hysterical. But I want to stop them from taking advantage of the innocent just like you..

[@ceciledelaney5174]

Scam!!!!