did you read that whole thing idiot.....ive lost my parents....and now that makes me a bad person because some other idiot was burned by yet another idiot and didnt know how to deal with it?! go see a shrink,and get over it!
i have met some of the nicest people on this site.

Many ppl have lost loved ones...it does not say not to trust ppl who have. Of course not. It's just pointing out that this is one of the lines ppl do use to get sympathy and make you drop your defenses.

There are obviously even ppl who actually need money desperately for a parents heat transplant or other life threatening issues, does not mean that someone who tells you this is a scammer...it happens in real life.

I'm sorry that you took offense by the OP's topic and attempt to educate us of possible warning signs for scammers, but Hiker is no idiot and we all get along so much better, despite our differences, if we refrain from name calling.

First of all I want to say that I have not encountered any scammers on this site.

However, confidence is High that some are on other dating sites where scammers troll for victims. So here are some pointers for Identifying scammers.

NOTE: The folks are very organized and DANGEROUS. The picture you see is NOT the person/persons you are talking with!! You are dealing with a very organized people whose goal is to take emotional and financial advantage of you.

1) The have had a recent tragedy in their lives - parent died (often in a tragic way) in the last 1 - 3 years.
2) Parents are divorced and they have gone looking for their "lost" parent.
3) They caught their best friend with their boyfriend/girlfriend in bed together or some such varient.
4) They have recently been robbed or in a car accident.
5) The are currently living or working in West Africa - Nigeria or Ghana.
6) They are stranded in a foreign country and need help getting money they are owed or just flat out ask for money with a promise of repaying it when they are back in the US.
7) If you talk with them on YM or receive e-mails from them their spelling and grammer is very poor.
8) In an the first e-mail you recieve you get a "life story".
9) Your profile is the best they have ever seen and they know you are the "soul mate". (Had one that immediately said she wanted to move in with me in her first e-mail!!!!)
10) The want to know all about you and say little about themselves - other then what is on the script they are using.
11) Pictures they send are often small and only of them. Look at the pictures for signs that don't match their story. (Had one claiming she was in a refugee camp and her pictures were from a resort in Jamacia. DUH!!!!)
12) They give a hard luck story about something that has recently happened and they need you to send money via Western Union.
13) Ask you if you have a web cam so they can see you. (They won't have one.)
14) Ask you for your phone number so they can call you or ask you to send money so they can buy a phone card to call you.
15) Their YM ID is something like - "honestsoulxx"

IF YOU SUSPECT YOU ARE TALKING WITH A SCAMMER WHAT DO YOU DO?

1) Get the IP off the header of any e-mail and use dnsstuff.com to track it.
2) Check out focushawaii.com to see if their picture is there. It is one of the many sites used by scammers to steal pictures form.
3) google their name.
4) google internet love scams and check out the sites that post known scammers. There are a number of sites dedicated to busting and posting scammers. They are probably on one or more of those sites.

ONCE CONFIRMED AS A SCAMMER

CUT OFF ALL COMMUNICATION IMMEDIATELY!!!!! ADD THEM TO THE IGNORE LIST ON YM OR MS MESSENGER.

DO NOT - REPEAT DO NOT ATTEMPT TO BAIT OR PLAY WITH THEM!!!!!!! This is EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. Internet Love Scams are a Multi-Million dollar industry. You are dealing with Organized Crime. And they are "Masters of the Mind Game".

If you have been scammed. Their are sites available for support.

Thank you ,Love. (one of the nice people I have met on this site.)

I like to think most ppl don't mean it, just become enraged and can not easily take it back.
I do not like the name calling, it makes me sad.
(((Hiker))) Very smart cookie, you!

Ah. Ms, Carmen, the very voice of reason!

Thank you

Lol I had this guy email me........he looked legit until I noticed he claimed he was white and he was clearly mexican.......no biggie but does he not know his colour?

Ditto on the "voice of reason"

Hi Redshirt, I have never met you, but I have been watching this threat for a few minutes. I read all the responses so far, and I say you are right. In my line of work, I have seen what you are talking about, both financially and emotionally. You posted good information, and are making people aware. These scammers come in all shapes and sizes. The info you provided is good...The only thing I would add is there are a lot of other sites and ways to keep anyone from getting or hijacking info from people, including how to not have your e mail hijacked.. What you said to look for is a very good start, however there is so many other ways they do this, people don't even know they have been scammed out of anything until it already happened...If you ever need or want any more info on how to stop these people, please feel free to contact me...Also to all the people, there are ways to recover anything you may have lost to a scammer...I do it for people all the time. What everyone needs to remember is, your not a fool and don't be embarrased that it happened. Your not an idiot, these people are...My hat's off to you for this forum.Good job.Again, any assistance needed by anyone in this area, just contact me. Hope I didn't offend anyone...Just putting the help out there...Have a good day to all.

Knight...hard to send you a message when one doesn't met your criteria.

Dreamcatcher...Yep sounds like you have met a scammer.

Lol I had this guy email me........he looked legit until I noticed he claimed he was white and he was clearly mexican.......no biggie but does he not know his colour?

You can tell someone's nationality by looking at them?

i apologize for calling hikerchic an idiot. and i did not read the whole thread......my angle is simply this, if one is weak,they will invite the scammer. not everyone needs to be told what to do,they have learned from their own expiriences. i like to accept people for who they are until they give me a reason to think other wise. i would hate to walk this earth in fear or in doubt of everyone. yes.....there are plenty of bad people out there,we know this.....but there are some who make a difference in each others lives and help one another. i dont like to be schooled on other peoples personal expiriences. we are all individuals and have our own way of taking care of ourselves. if i offended anyone with my views.....then i apologize for that sincerely.

You can tell someone's nationality by looking at them?