Save Me From A Life In Crime – Romance Scams

We Have Long Known About Romance Scams Where The Scammer Reveals Him/Herself

But that is usually to pull off an End-Game Scam

Romance Scam End-Game Scams are designed to extract the last little bit of money a victim has.

Scammers typically reveal themselves once they have almost everything a victim has, just in case they can get something more. They admit they really love the victim and ask for forgiveness. This is also a ploy to convert the victim into a money mule.

But they also have another tactic up their sleeve called a Confession Scam or Rescue Me Scam!

Rescue Me From Crime Romance Scam

However, there is another variation on these romance scams (relationship scams) called a Rescue Me Scam or Confession Scam.

Romance scams are unfortunately all too common in Nigeria and West Africa, where fraudsters use online dating sites and social media platforms to lure unsuspecting victims into sending them money.

A New Tactic In Romance Scams

One of the tactics these scammers use to manipulate their victims is to try a different approach by admitting that they are scammers (criminals) but pleading for help to save them from a life of crime.

This tactic is often called a “Confession Scam” or “Rescue Me Scam”

It involves the scammer confessing to their victim that they are a fraudster, but that they want to change their evil ways and live an honest life.

They will often claim that they have been forced into the scamming business because of financial hardship or that they are victims of circumstance. They may even go so far as to say that they have fallen in love with their victim and that the victim is their only hope for redemption.

Once they have gained their victim’s trust, the scammer will ask for money to help them start a new life or to pay off debts to their “bosses” in the scamming business. They may also ask for the victim’s personal information or access to their bank accounts, claiming that they need it to escape their criminal life (turning the victim into a money mule.)

Unfortunately, this is all a ruse, still more lies, and the scammer has no intention of changing their ways or starting a new life. They will simply disappear once they have gotten what they want from their victim.

How This Kind Of Romance Scam Works

The confession or rescue me scam is a tactic used by romance scammers typically in Nigeria, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Benin, Togo, and other West African countries to gain their victim’s trust and sympathy.

It involves the scammer admitting to their victim that they are a fraudster fairly early in the scam cycle but pleading for help to turn their life around.

In a typical romance scam, the scammer will usually initiate contact with their victim through an online dating site or social media platform, posing as a potential romantic partner, usually using a stolen identity and stolen photos (though not always.) They will spend time building a trusting relationship with their victim, often using flattering language, romantic gestures, and fake photos or identities to create a false sense of intimacy and trust. This is all part of the grooming and manipulation.

Once they have gained their victim’s trust, the romance scammer will expose themselves and start to talk about their financial difficulties and how they got into scamming. They will claim that they are desperate to leave the scamming business but cannot do it without help.

The scammer will, at some point, come out and will then make a confession, admitting that they are a scammer and have been deceiving their victim. They will often claim that they have been forced into the scamming business because of financial hardship or that they are victims of circumstance. They may even go so far as to say that they have fallen in love with their victim and that the victim is their only hope for redemption.

The scammer will then ask their victim for money to help them start a new life or to pay off debts to their “bosses” in the scamming business. They usually do not ask for large amounts of money, especially at first – though it often can build up.

They may also ask for the victim’s personal information or access to their bank accounts, claiming they need it to escape their criminal life. They just need to move some money from point A to point B. But this turns the victim into a money mule and makes them a part of their money laundering operation.

If the victim falls for the scam, they will get all the money they can or use access to the victim’s personal information or bank accounts. After the scam has run its course, the scammer will disappear, leaving the victim heartbroken and out of pocket.

Summary

It is important to remember that scammers are professional criminals (con artists) who know how to manipulate their victims’ emotions and vulnerabilities to control them.

If you suspect you are being targeted by a romance scammer, it is important to cut off all contact and report the incident to the relevant authorities. See our 3 Steps for New Scam Victims for more!

Remember, the confession scam is just another tactic used by romance scammers to exploit their victims. It is important to be aware of this tactic and to take steps to protect yourself from becoming a victim.