I really need some advice (quite a long read)

[MK_club1987]

Originally Posted by FairyNuff

Who pays for the phone internet? I really hope it's you
Tell the little rat that the police are now involved, hopefully that'll send him scurrying back to his sewer.

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She pays most of her phone bill, but I pay a bit on top so she could have an iPhone, so she could use facebook and stuff out and about and iPhone is the only smart phone she can really use...

I tried that last time and he blocked me, but I tell you what I am so angry I wish I could come face to face with him. This time I will tell him from mum's account.

When I spoke to him on the phone myself he was vile. Looking at his messages after that weekend it reads like he is trying to turn mum against me and other people, but mainly me because I called him out, unfortunately it almost seems like it's working, she literally worships him for one reason or another.

[Guest]

I'm so so sorry, really hope you can thwart this scumbag.

[CarolynU]

I am really sorry for you having to deal with this vile scam artist. I don't have any advice on how to handle it, but somehow you have to for everyone's sake as your mum is too vulnerable to do it herself. I wish you luck, and hope you get the assistance required from the relevant authorities too.

[Taffy1959]

I really feel for you and your mum too as she's obviously very lonely and he's caught her at a low point.

I would definitely contact the police and would do it today.

I know how difficult this is as I had a similar situation with my dad although the person was known to us and she conned at least £8,000 from my dad before I was able to prove it but once I did I was able involve the local council (she was a carer for them and had previously been my mothers carer) who were appalled and involved the police.

Unfortunately my dad wasn't well enough to take things any further so she got away with a caution and was moved to work in a care home rather than going to people's homes.

I don't think my dad was the first one she conned as she drove around in a very nice BMW and owns a house which is beyond anything my parents could have afforded.

I hope you can sort things out before they get any worse and she ends up owing people a lot of money

[fl-veteran]

Report his profile to Facebook as a scammer.

If they suspend his account she won't be able to talk to him any more unless they have exchanged other means of communicating.

[alisonjones]

Try and go and speak to her bank - they are aware of these scammers and do and try to advise people. I know there is the data protection law but if you ask to speak to someone in the fraud section and tell them your concerns they may put a block on sending money to this scammer. Also I would contact your local community police and ask them to have a word with her. It may well shock her into realising she is making a big mistake. A similar thing happened to a lady I know - she was taken in hook line and sinker - to even looking for flats here for them to live in. Good luck.

[LMHx]

I know this seems a bit much but can you deactivate/delete her facebook since you have her log in password so she can’t communicate with him?

[Bashfulwhite]

Ideal with things like this at work.
First, if it's western union then she is going to the bank to collect pikes of cash.
You need to let her bank know.
Second. Usually western union themselves will block her as the money is going to a risky area.
Third explain to her that this really is fraud.
She will not get her money back but if she continues sending the money then she is a tully laundering money and committing crime herself.
Lastly, now that they have a hook into her they will try irger scams continually to get more money. It's worth closing her Facebook account and email address and setting up new ones and potentially her mobile and home phone numbers. It may sound like hassle but a couple of hours to protect her are worth it.
Oh and usually this occurs because the victim is lonely and enjoying attention or the feeling of company, could she be encouraged to meet friends?
Hope that helps

[Welly]

Could you just block him by logging into your mums Facebook again so it looks like he's just gone? Also, report him to Facebook too.

[Island mamma]

I think others have given good advice re involving police. If he's doing this to your Mum then he's doing it to others. You proved it yourself by what you did with the fake profile. Who knows how many people he has scammed or how much money he has conned out of them? You really need the support of your family so I'd be tempted to tell her that you cannot keep this secret from them any longer and then tell your wife and brother. I really hope this vile individual gets what he deserves.