I said in my earlier thread that I wasn't going to continue on with the whole scammer thing however I just got to thinking about this and this is a question that I'm often asked.... can a scammer change?

I don't have the end all be all answer to that but of course I do have ainformation and experiencewith these sweet bois that I can share. I have other obligations so I can't get in to that tonight but.... I do have some information I can share, not my opinions, you saw that thread, lol, I would be interested to get other's opinions on this though.

More later,

hugs
tess

YES they can, anyone can change if they WANT too

Once people make "easy money" it's difficult to go back to being hardworking!
This was from 2006! It's way past this now!
Scams in the internet dating world are rampant. There is no dating site free of scammers.

Regardless if you are new to the internet dating world or a veteran, you should always read up on scams and the new techniques to part you and your money. The majority of these scams are out of Russia and Ukraine, with some out of the former Soviet Union (FSU) countries. Nigeria, Ghana and the Philippines have recently jumped on the bandwagon.

Background Checks

Disabled World warns its members that Internet dating and purchasing items online can be risky. We do not do any background checks of any kind of our users. Disabled World members should get to know a potential date well before agreeing to meet. Initial meetings should use common sense, such as meeting in a public place or be with a friend. Be careful, don't believe everything you hear.

Never send a man or a woman any money!

Be aware of classified buyers and sellers especially anyone offering a cashiers check over the asking price and requesting you send the extra funds to Nigeria or another country. Ensure you are positive the buyer or seller is who they say they are.

It is just not a good idea to send a stranger who you have never met, especially in another country, money period. Regardless what he/she needs it for, a visa and passport to come and see you, an operation for a loved one, a new computer, internet fees or he/she’s in Moscow on their way to see you and there’s a hidden fee that they need help paying or else they’ll be stranded at the Moscow airport for the rest of their life.

Tips to avoid being scammed online.

DEAL LOCALLY WITH FOLKS YOU CAN MEET IN PERSON

NEVER WIRE FUNDS VIA WESTERN UNION, MONEYGRAM

FAKE CASHIER CHECKS & MONEY ORDERS ARE COMMON - BANKS WILL CASH THEM AND THEN HOLD YOU RESPONSIBLE

NEVER GIVE OUT FINANCIAL INFORMATION to ANYONE.

AVOID DEALS INVOLVING SHIPPING OR ESCROW SERVICES

Disabled World does not handle payments, guarantee transactions, provide escrow services, or offer "buyer protection" or "seller certification"

Most scams involve one or more of the following:

An inquiry from someone far away, often in another country. Western Union, Money Gram, cashier's check, money order, shipping, escrow service, or a "guarantee". Refusal to meet face-to-face before consumating transaction

Examples of Scams

A. Someone claims that Disabled World will guarantee a transaction, certify a buyer/seller, OR claims that Disabled World will handle or provide protection for a payment. These claims are fraudulent, as Disabled World does not have any role in any transaction. Scammer will often send an official looking email that appears to come from Disabled World, offering a guarantee, certifying a seller, providing payment services -- all such emails are fakes!

B. A person offers a genuine-looking (but fake) cashier's check you receive an email offering to buy your item sight unseen. A cashier's check is offered for your sale item, as a deposit and the value of the cashier's check often far exceeds your item - scammer offers to "trust" you, and asks you to wire the balance via money transfer service. The banks will often cash these fake checks AND THEN HOLD YOU RESPONSIBLE WHEN THE CHECK FAILS TO CLEAR, including criminal prosecution in some cases! This scam often involves a 3rd party (shipping agent, business associate owing buyer money, etc)

C. Someone requests wire service payment via Western Union or MoneyGram: Often claim that an MTCN or confirmation code is needed before he can withdraw your money - this is FALSE, once you've wired money, it is GONE. Common countries participating in online scams currently include: Nigeria, Romania, Ukraine, Spain, UK, Italy, Netherlands - but could be anywhere in the world.

D. A person offers to send you a money order and then have you wire money - this is ALWAYS a scam, the cashier's check is FAKE sometimes accompanies an offer of merchandise, sometimes not scammer often asks for your name, address, etc for printing on the fake check.

E. A seller suggests use of an online escrow service, most online escrow sites are FRAUDULENT, operated by scammers.

F. A seller asks for a partial payment upfront, after which he will ship goods they say they trust you with the partial payment and may say that they have already shipped the goods.

G. A foreign company offers you a job receiving payments from customers. The foreign company may claim it is unable to receive payments from its customers directly you are offered a percentage of payments received this kind of "position" may be posted as a job, or offered to you via email BEWARE it is a scam!

I have heard of stories thru a third wheel of scammers gettng here and falling in love with the person that they were suspose to scam, then I heard of stories of people coming here and having so many kids that they had to stay with the person that they were suspose to scam.

Although child support is different within each state, all states will demand that the absent spouse pay the parent taking care of the child. Many states will garnish wages if the absent parent refuses to pay.

I think the real question should be (no offense to topic poster) why should we care if they change or not. If we are married to one or involved with one then my first response would be one that would benefit me the most. To protect myself and my family. Whatever they do is between themselves and God becuase only he can, read their heart condition, knows their background and innermost feelings and only he can provide the best justice not us. If they do a 360 once they arrive here and eventually come to love the victim then who would ever know their bad intentions in the first place, hence no harm no foul, however if they do carry out their plan of dishonesty on the victim, then what I said before would apply, only God can correct them and the situation. I would rather spend my time trying to avoid these type of people than trying to fix them.

ditto. if he or she is a scammer, can you really trust them? imo it's like having a pit bull that mauled it's previous owner.

I know of a woman that fell in love with her scammer. He had ruined her savings and she was looking to her father to help them meet so he could come here. She was so in love with him she shared her account passwords with him. He from thatg had access to personal data from people she was chatting with online Most of these people had no idea of the scammer. Even knowing this I got uneasy enough not knowing who I was talking to I severed contact. Did he change or just refine his scam by finding a new way to get close to people ? Money at times is the most power addiction there is. With what they can take from us they live so well in their native country can they really give that up ? Is it a trill thing with them, like it is with some shop lifters. If they got here and could face prosecution if caught would that be a bigger high ? Would they care enough about you to drop all that ? There are too many unknowns for me. I have had a lot of Nigerian men fall in love with me on the first chat. You just know they are looking for that ticket here.
On the opposite side of the coin Joseph is so afraid of scammers that he won't use computers. The 3 emails I have gotten from him he wrote by hand and paid a friend to type to me . When there has been something complex enough for me to send an email I have had to page him that he has email and sometime in the next few days he goes over to a friends to get it. I envy those of you that can chat online and use email like normal people.

Well said.

Exactly!!

I agree with your post and maybe we shouldn't care if they can change. The reason I started the thread is because there are an unbelievable number of men and women who have fallen in love with their scammer's and have ended up and/or are in the process of bringing him/her over here. I am not referring to anyone on this site, I don't know your circumstances and will not pretend that I do. I also agree that prevention is the key. But, from what I've seen, most scammer's do not change. They lie and manipulate to get what they want/need, that in my opinion is a character flaw. The odds are definetly against it.