Romance scams increase during pandemic; victim speaks out

It’s Cyber Security Awareness month and the FBI wants to warn people about potential scams, especially while so many are working and going to school virtually.

THAN EVER, THE FBI WANTS TOWARN PEOPLE ABOUT POTENTIALSCAMS. ESPECIALLY WITH SO MANYWORKING FROM HOME OR ATTENDINGSCHOOL ONLINE.

WMAR 2 NEWSABBY ISAACS SPOKE TO A MANFROM MONTGOMERY COUNTY WHO WASSCAMMED OUT OF THOUSANDS OFDOLLARS USING A DATING APP.4 LOOKLIVE- THIS MAN WHO WANTSTO STAY ANONYMOUS, TURNED TODATING APPS TO FILL A VOID,AND FOUND HIMSELF IN THEMIDDLE OF AN FBI MONEYLAUNDERING INVESTIGATION.

D-itthat you cant seem to get out.FOR 5 YEARS, D THOUGHT HE WASIN A CARING ONLINERELATIONSHIP, BUT JUST LASTMONTH, HE FOUND OUT IT WAS ALLA SCAM.

D- I was a littlelonely, I was needing someattention or I guess I justwanted some IT STARTED 5 YEARSAGO.

DIVORCED, HE HAD TURNEDTO DATING APPS SKOUT AND MEETME TO FILL THAT EMOTIONALVOID& AND MET BRANDY BOWENSFROM CANADA.

IT SEEMEDINNOCENT, BUT THEN SHE STARTEDASKING HIM TO BE THE MIDDLEMAN FOR HER ART BUSINESS.

D-By me already being investedin our conversations and ouronline relationships I kidnffelt it was okay for me to dothese thigns that they wanted.SO HE STARTED GETTING MONEYTRANSFERRED TO HIS BANKACCOUNT THAT HE WOULD THENSEND OUT IN CASHIERS CHECKS.

Ihad received 3 wire transfersof over 150 thousand dollarsand these monies they calimedwas for their business IT KEPTADDING UP&.

AND THEN SHE ASKEDFOR HIS MONEY.

IT ALL CAME TOA HEAD LAST MONTH WHEN HE GOTA CALL FROM THE FBI SAYING ITWAS ALL A SCAM& HIS 15THOUSAND DOLALRS WAS GONE.22:41-59 D // LOST THOUSANDSIN ROMANCE SCAM- its its hard.I lost hte money and it messedup everything in a financialway for me, trying to build mycredit back, just so much thatthat has screwed up for me THEFBI SAYS THESE SCAMS ARE EVENMORE COMMON NOW DURING THEPANDEMIC BECAUSE CRIMINALS ARETAKING ADVANTAGE OF GOVERNMENTPROGRAMS LIKE UNEMPLOYEMENTAND FUNNELING THE MONEYTHROUGH ROMANCE SCAM VICTIMS,LIKE D.

FBI BALTIMORE SPECIALagent JeffREY Reisingred flags, why am I gettingunemployment in other peoplesnames in my account, why am Igetting tens of thousands ofdollars in my account OTHERRED FLAGS TO LOOK FOR ARE IFTHEY CAN NEVER MEET IN PERSON,OR EVEN ANSWER PHONE CALLS, IFTHEY DONVOICEMAIL OR IF THEY ASK FORYOUR BANK ACCOUNT.

REISING-Why can I not talk to thisperson face to face using someof the tech available.

Whycanof our communication on text.ITSCAMMER COULD EXPLAIN AWAY.

D-saying my phoen is broke or mycamera doesnSHARING HIS STORY, HOPING THATESPECIALLY DUIRNG THIS VIRTUALTIME, HE CAN STOP OTHERS FROMFALLING VICITM.

D- Becautious.

If you get thatflag, I you donanswer for htat flag then youneed to leave it along.LOOKLIVE- IF YOU THINK YOUMIGHT BE A VICTIM OF A ROMANCESCAM, CONTACT YOUR LOCAL FBIOFFICE OR YOU CAN FILE AREPORT ONLINE.

FOR WMAR 2 NEWSIBALTIMORE CITY POLICE NEEDYOUR HELP IDENTIFYING