Son Being Targeted by Online Fake Person

JohnRinson

WhiskersTheWonderCat said:

Have you confronted him with the photos of this YouTuber? 

Yes, he knows now that it was fake, it's just I'm not sure what the scammers' end-game is. They've put so much time and effort into these communications with him, but apparently not made any request for money, at least hadn't done so far.

JohnRinson

WhiskersTheWonderCat said:

Have you confronted him with the photos of this YouTuber? 

Yes, he knows now that it was fake, it's just I'm not sure what the scammers' end-game is. They've put so much time and effort into these communications with him, but apparently not made any request for money, at least hadn't done so far.

DullGreyGuy

JohnRinson said:
how can someone fall for something that is so obviously fake. He's a normal, sensible lad with good common sense in every other way. 

To be honest, I think most of us can fall for something "obvious" if its the right levers at the right time...

Was in the heat of a massive piece of work, a chap opposite was worked in financial services for 2 decades and got a phonecall from his bank saying someone was actively in his online banking attempting to transfer his money from his savings account and that he should log in immediately and transfer the money to a "safe account".

The second he did it and hung up the phone his face visibly collapsed as he realised he'd just transferred £20k to the scammers. 

At another time when he wasnt crazy busy thinking of a thousand other things they probably wouldnt have got him... for him it was the fact they spoofed the callerID also sucked him in. 

mark_cycling00

The question is why someone is putting so much effort into targeting your son.

So, please don't take this the wrong way, I'm just offering a suggestion that you're free to ignore...

In your previous posts, your elderly father seems to have been targeted by con-artists and your daughter was also conned out of £6,500 by a cool man she met at a nightclub. An accountant then offered some dodgy advice to your mother involving transferring property ownership. "Something" (life event) happened in 2015 but since then you've cleared started to do very well in life financially.

Potentially: your family might be on a list of people to target that fraudsters buy online. It's good that you are concerned about this internet lady!

If you have recently started to do very well financially then please protect yourself and ensure that your children don't give away your personal details to random strangers on the internet.

born_again

Would be interesting to know the outcome of daughters case?

MalMonroe

Scammers can very often get all of a Facebook user's family's details as well, once they start corresponding with someone.

It's a tad worrying that these scammers now have your address.

Your whole family should be very careful about online presence because all kinds of personal information can be gleaned from Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, you name it. 

Please do report this to Action Fraud.  https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/

People often say that AF do nothing but they do - and they compile databases of cybercrime too. They are working 'behind the scenes' as it were. 

If you've ever seen the programme 'Dirty Rotten Scammers', you'll know that all scammers are becoming more sophisticated by the day. It's worth having a look if you have some time, on BBC iPlayer. They're made in conjunction with the OU and give some very sensible advice and information about cyber-scamming and how to avoid it. 

Grumpy_chap

JohnRinson said:

how can someone fall for something that is so obviously fake. He's a normal, sensible lad with good common sense in every other way. 

I don't think 18yo lads necessarily engage brain once the trousers are involved.

To be fair, nor do a lot of older men.

Ectophile

JohnRinson said:

WhiskersTheWonderCat said:

Have you confronted him with the photos of this YouTuber? 

Yes, he knows now that it was fake, it's just I'm not sure what the scammers' end-game is. They've put so much time and effort into these communications with him, but apparently not made any request for money, at least hadn't done so far.

Sometimes they are patient.  The longer things go on for, the more trusting the victim becomes.  Diving in and asking for money too early on can scare people away.

user1977

Ectophile said:

JohnRinson said:

WhiskersTheWonderCat said:

Have you confronted him with the photos of this YouTuber? 

Yes, he knows now that it was fake, it's just I'm not sure what the scammers' end-game is. They've put so much time and effort into these communications with him, but apparently not made any request for money, at least hadn't done so far.

Sometimes they are patient.  The longer things go on for, the more trusting the victim becomes.  Diving in and asking for money too early on can scare people away.

Yes, they'll wait until he's heavily invested. Then "she" will be just about to get on a plane to meet him, but she'll need money urgently for a new ticket or a visa or something...and if that works, she'll have some other problem, and so on until he finally twigs.

gwynlas

Given a voice generating app was used it is possible that the caller was male with a massive crush on your son. There might be a sexual rather than financial scam going on. If your son is not vulnerable in any way then just chalk it up to experience.