Dad (70s) communicating with younger (30s) woman- what is her motive?

[Anonymous]

My father (70s) who is a very intelligent guy was contacted (not sure how- probably via dating site) by a younger woman in her 30s who wants to “get to know him over text message”. She supposedly lives in a different city (in the US), has a lot of money and a professional career, etc. he showed me pictures of her and her “house”. These pictures are heavily edited/photoshopped, which is clear to me. I can’t find exact matches on a reverse Google image search- but it’s sketchy. He hasn’t given out personal info or money - but it’s completely obvious to me this is some kind of catfish situation. From the little information he has given me there are red flags and inconsistencies (and I’m a millennial so quite savvy in online sleuthing).

My first thoughts are - this person wants money, they want us citizenship, they are trying to gather enough personal info to steal identity, or they are just bored and messing with him? is there any other point of someone doing this? I warned him of all the red flags and told her there is no point in continuing conversations and he should block the number right away.

It’s possible it is a real woman who is just bored (who is at the very least embellishing her life) but even then- there are only downsides to continuing conversation. How can I convince him to block her?

[Anonymous]

LOL of course she wants his money. are you seriously asking this?

[Anonymous]

This is not a woman in the US. It’s a man part of a scam network overseas. He is catfishing your dad. If your dad hasn’t yet sent this person money, he soon will.

[Anonymous]

This is a set-up. Send him articles about internet scams.

[Anonymous]

My friend was in a similar situation, she found a program to see ip and sure enough the mysterious boyfriend was sending messages not from the West Coast but from Nigeria!!!

[Anonymous]

There is a recent podcast “this is uncomfortable” or “death sex and money” ? Where a woman talks about her story getting scammed like this. Please share it with him if it’s easier to listen than read an article.

We get a lot if training at work on Phishing, internet scams, security breaches, etc. I share them with my not quite elderly parents as a “did you know”. They get insulted when I point out that the reason their Facebook gets “hacked” so often is that they click on things they shouldn’t - so I try to take a preventative approach and explain people of all ages are tricked by scammers and we all have to stay informed of the latest scams.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My friend was in a similar situation, she found a program to see ip and sure enough the mysterious boyfriend was sending messages not from the West Coast but from Nigeria!!!

Op here. Yeah 100% the phone number is something she or whoever it is probably bought online. I figured out how to do it in about 5 minutes. I have every reason to believe it’s sketchy. I am tempted to message the person myself through a spoofed number to see what would happen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My friend was in a similar situation, she found a program to see ip and sure enough the mysterious boyfriend was sending messages not from the West Coast but from Nigeria!!!

Op here. Yeah 100% the phone number is something she or whoever it is probably bought online. I figured out how to do it in about 5 minutes. I have every reason to believe it’s sketchy. I am tempted to message the person myself through a spoofed number to see what would happen.

first thing should be telling your dad to don't do anything

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My friend was in a similar situation, she found a program to see ip and sure enough the mysterious boyfriend was sending messages not from the West Coast but from Nigeria!!!

Op here. Yeah 100% the phone number is something she or whoever it is probably bought online. I figured out how to do it in about 5 minutes. I have every reason to believe it’s sketchy. I am tempted to message the person myself through a spoofed number to see what would happen.

first thing should be telling your dad to don't do anything

I told him to block the number immediately. He says he is going to “confront her”. I assume once too many questions get asked she will stop, but I will keep asking him to make sure she isn’t persisting.

[Anonymous]

Do him a huge favor and change his number. Blocking a con artist won't do anything.

[Anonymous]

Show this thread to your dad now!!

[Anonymous]

Delete the text thread and block the number

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My friend was in a similar situation, she found a program to see ip and sure enough the mysterious boyfriend was sending messages not from the West Coast but from Nigeria!!!

Op here. Yeah 100% the phone number is something she or whoever it is probably bought online. I figured out how to do it in about 5 minutes. I have every reason to believe it’s sketchy. I am tempted to message the person myself through a spoofed number to see what would happen.

first thing should be telling your dad to don't do anything

I told him to block the number immediately. He says he is going to “confront her”. I assume once too many questions get asked she will stop, but I will keep asking him to make sure she isn’t persisting.

Don’t assume this. These scammers are very good. She may convince him she is legit. My parent’s friend send $100k to some dude before she realized it was a scam. She wasn’t that old and she was pretty smart. She was lonely.

[Anonymous]

It's a scam, like all the "military officers" and "surgeons" who contact middle aged female me on social media.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My friend was in a similar situation, she found a program to see ip and sure enough the mysterious boyfriend was sending messages not from the West Coast but from Nigeria!!!

Op here. Yeah 100% the phone number is something she or whoever it is probably bought online. I figured out how to do it in about 5 minutes. I have every reason to believe it’s sketchy. I am tempted to message the person myself through a spoofed number to see what would happen.

first thing should be telling your dad to don't do anything

I told him to block the number immediately. He says he is going to “confront her”. I assume once too many questions get asked she will stop, but I will keep asking him to make sure she isn’t persisting.

You assume wrong. They will now convince him YOU are the problem and tell him how to hide it from you. Get his phone, block the number, delete the text thread.