My OH fell for a scam

firehawk_2 · 12 March 2009 at 11:58PM

unfortunately my girlfriend (whom I love with all my heart) fell for an online scam. she doesn't know much about computers/internet and how much scam there exists out there.

Given the unfortunate credit that she has due to her messy divorce a few years ago (credit rating being bad from the ex which puts them both on a bad credit rating), she needed a loan.

Now, she wouldn't be able to get a loan because of the credit rating she has, in addition for her low income (she works @ the NHS as a nurse), she decided to see if there are companies that exist which would give her a loan.

she did an internet search, signed up for one, they asked her to pay a fee which she wired through Western Union, then they asked for more money, she wired it through... and of course, 2 months on and she hasn't got her "approved" loan - of course, this was a scam.

today she faced devistating news that the council are evicting her for not paying back the extra money that housing benefit have been giving her, even though she was told that she updated the housing benefit folks that her situation has changed as she is working - they of course didn't reflect this on the system and is now facing the eviction.

Me being out of work the past 2 months due to the recession, and me still having debts to pay off, I do have some saving and just gave her £2000 as this is what they wanted or face the eviction.....

Thing is, she doesn't know what to do to get her money back. She has the emails, and the Western Union reciept slips - I told her to go to the police about this, and they said that she needs to contact the US embassy (as this scam is based from the US) - thats all very well but what do we do here?

who else can we report to?

were thinking about emailing this scammer again saying "I need the money ASAP and we will pay even more with interest immediately to get the process moving", then maybe WU can grab them and pull them into the cops over there or something

all in all question is, what can be done in this scam that has unfortunately happened? Can money be taken back in some way or something?

Thanks, it's a shock, she just told me about this today and completely speechless. of course, me being in IT I know about these things, but she doesn't know anything at all..... and she didn't tell me at all.

funny, she was about to apply for another loan, and I scrunched up the paper and threw it in the bucket saying she isn't getting a loan as I will try to support her or something of that nature... so I saved her from losing more money over this past weekend.

Thanks.....

Tirian · 13 March 2009 at 12:14AM

First off, well done for helping her out, not judging her and for keeping her from losing even more to these scammers.

That's the good bit. Sadly, the bad part is that it's extremely unlikely that you will ever be able to get this money back. Even though you may have sent the money to the US, it may well have ended up elsewhere. I wish you the best of luck if you try to pursue it, but I fear you would probably be better off putting your efforts to other use.

firehawk_2 · 13 March 2009 at 12:20AM

Thanks I appreciate that, I thought this would be the case but just wanted to maybe ask for advice or see if there is a way..... something I may not know about/missed.

So even if she has the WU slips.... nothing at all? Not even if we can somehow get the scammer caught red handed?

oliveoyl · 13 March 2009 at 12:25AM

Have a look at this website... it's a group set up to target the scammers, it'll tell you a bit more about these things if nothing else.

firehawk_2 · 13 March 2009 at 9:45AM

Well today she went to the council and apperently they said that its ok, that she can stay at her home and that she makes the payment which is good.

they also said that they have been hearing a few cases like this .... and that it isnt her fault. But the question now is, surely that they admitted this, why should she still have to pay the £2000 even though it is their fault?

Sorry, I know - this is a loan subforum! But just the mind is all over the place.

ILW · 13 March 2009 at 12:41PM

firehawk wrote: »

Well today she went to the council and apperently they said that its ok, that she can stay at her home and that she makes the payment which is good.

they also said that they have been hearing a few cases like this .... and that it isnt her fault. But the question now is, surely that they admitted this, why should she still have to pay the £2000 even though it is their fault?

Sorry, I know - this is a loan subforum! But just the mind is all over the place.

Not sure what the connection between being conned and receiving HB she was not entitled to have to do with each other.

firehawk_2 · 13 March 2009 at 12:47PM

there isnt a connection....

anyway today, she recieved ANOTHER email... and they want more money. obviously, she isnt going to send it but the police said that they are going to investigate

Valli · 13 March 2009 at 12:51PM

Re the council if THEY made a mistake KICK UP A FUSS! Write to your MP. Write to them saying as it's their mistake they should bear the cost.

firehawk_2 · 13 March 2009 at 1:04PM

very true. thanks Valli!.

KimYeovil · 13 March 2009 at 1:05PM

If she doesn't know that sending payments via Western Union is not how to receive a loan how does she know it is the council's fault that housing benefit has been overpaid? Chances are, it is she who has made the mistake. Eviction notices do not arrive overnight.