My elderly friend is receiving and forwarding money from a man she met on the internet.

I have a friend who’s been going through something similar with her mother for a few years now. She went to her mom’s bank and they quickly told her they’d noticed suspicious activity on her accounts. The bank manager called the mom and had her come in, talked to her about adding her daughter to her accounts. She agreed to do so as she saw the manager as “official” and someone whose advice she needed to follow. The fraud still went on but my friend was able to limit the damage. Just recently, mom fell and went to rehab. Her adult children seized on the opportunity to take her phone and shut down the scammers. It took literally years and she’d lost thousands. Mom still believes the scammers weren’t bad people, and there’s no dementia diagnosis. This can be undone, but certainly not quickly or easily. It’s shameful

You should urge your friend to report this scheme to the US Postal Inspection Service as this seems to be mail fraud going on.

I too think thisvis laundering money. Its actually mail fraud. If your friend has family, they should report the scam. If she has no family, then u seeva lawyer to see what can be done for this poor soul since she has no idea what she is doing. To be honest, I wonder why her bank has not caught on.

The only power you have is to either
1) tell her PoA, adult child or some other family emember;
2) report her to law enforcement and hope that it ends the money laundering, if that's what this is.

If she doesn't have a PoA or any family:

Do you suspect she might have the beginnings of cogntive impairment? Falling for these types of scams and hanging onto to the romantic delusion is a very common dementia behavior.

Have you tried contacting her bank to let them know your concern?

I wouldn't bother warning her first because she'll just alert the scammer.

Report fraud to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC): ReportFraud.ftc.gov

This sounds like Money Laundering.

I think I would first call my local Police, or crime reporting hotline for advice. Find out HOW to report this eg phone, in person, at a bank?

Being elderly, sitting down & discussing face to face may work better than a phone report?

You know your friend.. would they gain the confidenece to report this if you accompanied them?

They could go to gain INFORMATION before formally reporting.

That's what a freind of mine did with a tricky situation. The Police advised her of the options.. one was filing a formal complaint. This could lead to a charge & the possibility of attending court as a witness. She reluctantly decided against that to protect her identity BUT by speaking up she was given other ways to change the situation (which worked).

You can do nothing. This has been going on for 8 years, for petesake, and she says she sold her CAR and sent this phantom voice the money, so how do YOU expect to get thru to a friend who's either confabulating dementia stories or is mentally ill to be doing such a thing!? Your friend must be very wealthy to have given this voice her banking and credit card info for the past 8 years and to still have more than a thin dime to her name!

If the story is true, and if she WANTS to stop this nonsense, have a registered letter sent to this person telling them she died. Then she can close down all of her accounts and open new ones at different banks.

Others here seem to understand what is happening, but I sure don't.

And this friend? Don't you find it a bit odd that she expresses she is doing something she feels is illegal because she loves someone, but that she ALSO feels she will be killed if she stops?

I think I would just tell your friend that you don't wish to hear about this mess anymore, and advise her to seek the help of the police.

Report to the FBI for Elder abuse . if a Email is being used or fraud go to www.ic3.gov and file a report .

I walked in on my mom last week she was talking on the phone to someone that said he was her grandson and in an accident. I got mad, shouldnt of yelled at her to hang up, but what the heck , is wrong with people going after the helples, makes me so upset.

She told me after, she new he was a scammer, it didn't sound like she new at all. I told her when you know it's a scammer never keep them on the phone. Hang up asap, because the longer your on the more information they can get. I don't think she understands though

I have no answer for you other than what has all ready been said.

It's just so sad!

HI Esmiralda - sorry to hear this...it sounds terrible. Your friend claims she loves a man that she never met and has never spoken to and is also afraid that she'll be killed if she doesn't continue being extorted by him - he's a fraud and this needs to cease immediately.

You should explain to your friend that she's putting herself in jeopardy by doing what she's doing - it's very suspicious depositing checks for him and then sending him money - it's like money laundering. I'd be surprised if these checks he's sending are even real. The whole thing is bad.

She needs to contact her bank and have the account closed and open a new account. Same thing with her credit cards - inform the credit card company and get new cards - and NOT to provide this information to this man - her banking and financial information should remain PRIVATE.

Your friend needs to stop communicating with this man - if she needs one last message, she needs to tell him that she's now bankrupt and has nothing left - then block him. If it's easier, be there as a support while she handles these steps. And she should also notify the police if she feels unsafe.

I hope your friend feels empowered after taking the appropriate measures rather than continue being exploited. It's no way to live.

Report it to her bank, the police and any anti- fraud agency you can find.

Wow! 8 years? Interesting…

Do you suspect that your friend has dementia or extremely naive to have agreed to this situation?

Does she have children that you could pass this information along to?

Do you even know if what she is telling you is factual?

Wishing you and your friend well.

I would report this to the police. Particularly if she is afraid for her safety.