Virginia's story.

One may think, how could this happen to me? Well, it has. I have become a victim of an online romance con.

 

I met a man online who I believed loved me. We made life plans. We spoke of the unconditional love we had for each other. We talked about where we would spend our future holidays and celebrations with our families and friends. We either spoke, texted or facetimed daily.

 

I was getting ready to retire from my Registered Nursing career and start the next stage of my life.

 

And so, it began...

 

He told me if I put my retirement money into a high yield cryptocurrency account, I could make the additional funds I would need for retirement in a few months.

 

So, I did. I agreed to place my 401K and my inheritance into the account that he set up online for me. And it grew like he said it would.

 

He was away on business and was to complete the job and be home in a couple months. Then, his plan to return kept getting changed to later dates due to his job. He had staffing, material and equipment problems. He continually asked me for money so he could finish the job and get home so we can start our lives together.

 

I took out two loans, mortgaged my paid off house and sent him all my cash savings. He told me that as soon as he can finish the job, he can make it home. He said, “I will pay you back every penny”. I believed him and why not, we were to spend the rest of our lives together.

 

The money in the online account's maturity date was approaching so, I figured I would take those funds and pay off my debt. My man will be home and pay all he borrowed.

 

I tried to remove the funds from the online account several times, unsuccessfully. I contacted the online account and I was told by them via email, “...we seem to have an issue with your account but its currently being attended to and you should be able to take your funds when it's done... it will take about 14-21 working days”. I knew on 05/02/2022 there was a problem. When I contacted my man, he reassured me that the money was safe in the account.

 

This whole thing didn’t set right with me. So, I contacted a family friend whose computer savvy and he said to send him everything I had on the account and he asked if I felt if there were any concern regarding the person who set the account up for me. I was beginning to wonder at that point. Within 24 hours I received a call. I was devastated! I lost everything I worked so hard for including the man I thought loved me.

 

So, here I am, I lost my retirement money, all my savings, I'm in debt, trying not to lose my house, identity stolen and desperately asking for help to pay off what I can and move forward from this heartbreaking experience.

 

Is it humbling to ask for help? Yes, but not as much as it is to think that the man who said he loved me, who wanted to be with me and join our friends and family together...finding out it was all a con...that’s humbling!

 

I am a survivor and a believer. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV