On Friday we wrote of federal crime statistics that indicted a modest decline in online crimes, in particular, confidence scams where criminals pretend they are an inheritance recipient, lottery winner ... or romantic interest.
(2011's 25 Geekiest 25th Anniversaries)
Modest was the key point there, as indicted in this report in the Chicago Sun-Times:
(The victim) told police he started the online relationship 2 1/2 years ago. Since then, he had wired about $200,000 total to several different bank accounts in Nigeria, Malaysia, England and the United States, police said. An identification card the woman provided to him ended up being a sample driver's license from Florida.
The 48-year-old man contacted police when he believed his "girlfriend" was in danger because she had been kidnapped in London.
Police said when an officer told the man the "woman" he was sending money to didn't exist, he "was in disbelief."
The best that can be said for this victim and his situation is that for the time being, at least, his identity is being kept out of news reports.
That will almost certainly change. He will be ridiculed, but I can't help but feel sympathy and even sadness for him. Try to imagine the desperation and loneliness necessary for an adult to suspend disbelieve to the extent needed in order to fall for a scam of this nature in the first place, never mind for so long.
Now imagine the humiliation of not only learning the truth but knowing that others will, too.
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