I was a victim of a lagos "love" scam

by debbie
(tucson,az usa)

I fell for a man whom requested me off of my space. He said his name was Richard smith. He gave his picture as a very handsome caucasion man posing with his daughter. He woowed me with love poems and things every woman would want to hear. He insisted on my IMing him instead of the my space. He said he was working in Lagos Nigeria as a contractor for an oil company. Then he started telling me how his 12 year old daughter fell ill in Nigeria and he was in desperate need of 500.00 as a down payment for a surgery for a new kidney. He had me feeling so sorry for him. To make a long story short I send him the money and then he started asking for more, for this and that. He said he was from Indiana and very rich but could not access his money in Nigeria. Im not a stupid woman, but "love" makes you do stupid things. He even went as far as telling me he was arrested for his work visa expiring and needed money for that too. I kept promising him money, but never sent it. Eventually after a long while I got him to admit he was a scammer but he said he really fell in love with me. I never reported him, although I should. Now after a couple of months he has been contacting me again and even had the nerve to ask me today 8/7/2009, too help him with a scam and to tell a lady his name is Richard Smith so he could get money to come to me in the US. I said hell no, he begged and begged and I stood my ground. He became furious and called me horrid names, he has a bad temper. He admitted his real name is Solomon, but would not give a last name. I dont want anyone else to fall for his crap, hes a sweettalker. His phone number is0112348034163611 and his email is r_smith47729@yahoo.com. I also racked up 2400.00 in phone bills. He will answer his phone with "hello baby" he loves to call you baby or my love. He says "I love you with all of my heart". When he uses the word "no" HE uses "know". His grammer is very poor. I know, I know, I fell for it all, but NEVER again. Ive been approached by 4 more scammers but when I responded to them that I was not a 419 or a "magha" (which is what they call stupid white women), I never heard from them again. Ladies please-------dont fall for it. This is how they make their living.