Help, I think my mum is being scammed

Robin9

baser999 said:

Robin9 said:

@baser999  Has your mum got a BT call blocker phone ?

It’s a BT unit, will have to check. I must admit that since she’s stopped being able to answer them, they’re cut down enormously, must have realised she’s a ‘no-answer’ subscriber 😏

Many of the scam phone calls are computer generated and cut off when the first gullibles answer..  Anyone who wants to talk will leave a message.

MikeJXE

She needs to be taught to have no fear of scammers but she needs to be educated 

Watch with her YouTube scammers, romance and others 

It happens to all sorts of people. I walked into my 40 year old nieces house on day and she was on the phone to the bank, I listened for a few minutes and asked did they call you ? Yes she said so I cut her off, she rang the bank and found out it was a scam

My wealthy very educated friend paid £2,700 for his partner, her son had rang, borrowed a phone lost his wallet and needed the money immediately 

The son rang again after a little while and wanted more but the partner said she would need to confirm it with the wife. Another scam 

Apparently his bank will only refund 50% as they judge it equal fault 

lincroft1710

Pollycat said:

What dreadful people these scumbags are.
Why can't they do an honest day's work like other people?

Because it's far easier to sit at a computer or on a mobile and just send pre--written messages to gullible people. Often it is not individuals who are the culprits but organised criminal gangs from abroad.

Pollycat

lincroft1710 said:

Pollycat said:

What dreadful people these scumbags are.
Why can't they do an honest day's work like other people?

Because it's far easier to sit at a computer or on a mobile and just send pre--written messages to gullible people. Often it is not individuals who are the culprits but organised criminal gangs from abroad.

Er...it was a rhetorical question.

diystarter7

lincroft1710 said:

Pollycat said:

What dreadful people these scumbags are.
Why can't they do an honest day's work like other people?

Because it's far easier to sit at a computer or on a mobile and just send pre--written messages to gullible people. Often it is not individuals who are the culprits but organised criminal gangs from abroad.

Hi

Yes that is true re emails etc. Saw how it works on youtube

Thnaks

baser999

Robin9 said:

baser999 said:

Robin9 said:

@baser999  Has your mum got a BT call blocker phone ?

It’s a BT unit, will have to check. I must admit that since she’s stopped being able to answer them, they’re cut down enormously, must have realised she’s a ‘no-answer’ subscriber 😏

Many of the scam phone calls are computer generated and cut off when the first gullibles answer..  Anyone who wants to talk will leave a message.

That’s what we’ve told her - if she does ever answer the phone, she just tells them she can’t hear them or to call me or my brother. She might be old and visually impaired but still has her marbles and is keen to hang on to her money!

Taylor7979

Hi, I am going through this with my mum now, she has given 120,000 away!!! she has cashed in her pension, took out loans, borrowed money from friends, sold her car!! she is trying to divorce her husband to take money out of the house! she sends bitcoin, buys amazon gift cards, and other online cards, any penny she gets she sends to them, she truly believes she is going to live in america with this man soon and live happily ever after, nothing I say will change her mind, she has been groomed by them for the last 4 years, I had no idea till recently. she is an intelligent woman and has always been super good with her money, tight even. She doesn't think she is giving it away, she thinks she is getting it back, and then some. she has her bag packed for america, passport updated, a years worth of prescription drugs, the police won't help I have sent them round twice, they were even called to the bank last week as she caused a scene in the bank trying to withdraw 4k cash and the back wouldn't let her. I can't speak to them directly about her being scammed, she appears perfectly normal on the surface but that's because she believes these lies. Its not ok! she is going to be made bankrupt. Her home is at risk which has been paid for in full. it's such a mess. I called her dr who made a house call but my mum refused to talk to her, she told her to get lost, she has become aggressive with her husband and with me, The Dr has referred her to mental health team, they have said they will go round to do an assessment but to date nothing has happened. It's a night mare. I don't understand how she got sucked into this, she is sending money to 10 or more different account names. all with nigerian names, how does she not see that? 

lincroft1710

Taylor7979 said:

Hi, I am going through this with my mum now, she has given 120,000 away!!! she has cashed in her pension, took out loans, borrowed money from friends, sold her car!! she is trying to divorce her husband to take money out of the house! she sends bitcoin, buys amazon gift cards, and other online cards, any penny she gets she sends to them, she truly believes she is going to live in america with this man soon and live happily ever after, nothing I say will change her mind, she has been groomed by them for the last 4 years, I had no idea till recently. she is an intelligent woman and has always been super good with her money, tight even. She doesn't think she is giving it away, she thinks she is getting it back, and then some. she has her bag packed for america, passport updated, a years worth of prescription drugs, the police won't help I have sent them round twice, they were even called to the bank last week as she caused a scene in the bank trying to withdraw 4k cash and the back wouldn't let her. I can't speak to them directly about her being scammed, she appears perfectly normal on the surface but that's because she believes these lies. Its not ok! she is going to be made bankrupt. Her home is at risk which has been paid for in full. it's such a mess. I called her dr who made a house call but my mum refused to talk to her, she told her to get lost, she has become aggressive with her husband and with me, The Dr has referred her to mental health team, they have said they will go round to do an assessment but to date nothing has happened. It's a night mare. I don't understand how she got sucked into this, she is sending money to 10 or more different account names. all with nigerian names, how does she not see that? 

There are some people for whom, for some inconceivable reason, logic goes straight out of the window. They get an idea in their head and nothing you do or say will change their opinion. From personal experience, this does sometimes happen with highly educated intelligent people.

gettingtheresometime

Pollycat said:

heidiprincess13 said:

She has a farce book message to start with then moved her on to Google chat. 

She is just lonely but has a great group of friends. She is going to speak to her closest friend later today as they had warned her. She feels awful for lying. But I have draw a line and if anyone ever asks for money, vouchers etc she is to call me.

I can’t thank you all enough for your comments 

Why is she lonely if she has friends?
Are her days empty?
Perhaps she could look into starting a course at a school. Possibly IT for beginners or something similar. Or even going to tea dances or join a local ramblers group.
Or maybe volunteer in a charity shop.

She needs a big hug and a bunch of flowers.
Well done to you for stepping in and sorting it out.

Oh Polly I'm not sure of your circumstances but you sound as if you have no idea.

Hubby died 18 months ago and whilst I will miss him every day for the rest of my life, and whilst I have friends I can call on & do things with, I am so lonely it hurts, probably more now than losing my hubby.

I miss being someone's person, I miss someone being just at the other end of the sofa or upstairs. I miss coming home & telling him that he was right that film, play whatever was awful. I miss coming home, shouting I'm home and there being a response rather than deafening silence.

Thats why the OP's mum is probably lonely.

gettingtheresometime

lincroft1710 said:

Pollycat said:

What dreadful people these scumbags are.
Why can't they do an honest day's work like other people?

Because it's far easier to sit at a computer or on a mobile and just send pre--written messages to gullible people. Often it is not individuals who are the culprits but organised criminal gangs from abroad.

The only word I'd change in that sentence is gullible ....for vulnerable