Special Reports

Seniors lose millions over 'sweetheart' scams

By Jason Stoogenke, wsoctv.com
By Jason Stoogenke, wsoctv.com

STANLY COUNTY, N.C. — Scammers target the lonely, offering romance, but they're really after their wallets.

Consumer investigators call them "sweetheart" scams and say they've already cost Carolina residents millions this year. It's one of the most costly cons going on right now.

So far, this year, in North Carolina, officials say 17 victims lost a total of $3,099,607 to sweetheart scams.  In South Carolina, three victims lost roughly $153,000. Those are just the cases that investigators know about.

How they work

These relationships usually start online. The scammers pretend to be regular people. They get seniors to fall in love with them and then cut to the real chase: money.

For example,Muller got suspicious when her "ship captain" wanted her to wire that $740. is 82 years old. She lives in Stanly County and has been a widow since her husband died 10 years ago and is a great-great-grandmother.

She spends her days painting and, like many people, on her phone.

"I don't use a computer anymore. I just use my smartphone," she said.

She's a big Facebook person. She likes posting pictures of her paintings, and that's how the con man contacted her.

"All of a sudden, this handsome, white-bearded captain appeared that wanted to talk to me and chat with me," she said.

He said he was the captain of a ship somewhere in the Indian Ocean and even sent her pictures as proof. He said he liked her art and wanted her to paint his portrait.

"Then he started romancing me and saying all kinds of sweet stuff to me," she said, including "Hello, my love," "Yes, my love," and "I miss you, honey."

  • CLICK PLAY: Georgia Muller talks about how she was romanced

                   

'I wanted it to be true'

Their relationship took off, with texts flying back and forth. Eventually, the man said he wanted to marry her.

"I wanted it to be true," she said.

But first, he said he needed her help. He sent her a picture and said it was his daughter, who needed money for medical bills for asthma, and asked Muller to wire $740.

Muller got suspicious when her "ship captain" wanted her to wire that $740.

So the great-great-grandmother did the right thing: She went online, Googled "ship," "captain" and "scam," and found other people asking the same questions, like "Is he a real ship captain?"

'It hurt'

"That's when I knew it was a scam," she said. It was a scam, but it was still an emotional letdown.

  • CLICK PLAY: Georgia Muller talks about how it hurt

                   

"When he was gone, it was like my bubble was busted," she said. "I wanted him. I wanted him to stay there. And it hurt. It did. It hurt."

She told him the jig was up and says he admitted it. Yet he asked her for money again, this time for a sick sister.

"So even after you called him out on it, he still tried to hit you up for more money?" Action 9's Jason Stoogenke asked Muller.

"Yeah," she replied.

She told him no again.

Protect yourself and loved ones

FBI special agent John Wydra said seniors looking for love should research anyone they meet online, especially if that person asks for money and especially if the person wants the money wired or on a prepaid debit card. Search the name, job, address or anything personal that he or she mentions.

If you don't know how, ask a loved one.

If you are the loved one, keep an eye on seniors. Ask them questions gently, like Wydra does with his own mother: "What website are you on? Who did you talk to? What did they say? How do you know that that's true?"

If you think you may be talking with a scammer, but aren't sure, take any of three steps:

  1. Go to IC3.gov. The FBI runs the site. It lists various scams and even buzzwords to listen for.
  2. Go to FBI.gov.  It also lists scams and how to spot them.
  3. Ask Action 9's Jason Stoogenke. Jason.Stoogenke@wsoc-tv.com, 704-338-999, Jason Stoogenke WSOC TV Reporter (on Facebook), @Action9 (on Twitter), or 1901 N. Tryon St., Charlotte, NC 28206 (by mail).

Three ways to protect yourself and loved ones

                   

  1. Research anyone you meet online. Search the name, job, address, or anything else personal that he or she mentions.
  2. Be suspicious if he or she asks for money, especially wired or by prepaid debit card.
  3. If you don't know how to research online, ask a loved one. And if you are the loved one, keep a eye on seniors.

Read our past investigations:

WSOC

Most Read