Grooming for Money
In this section, Grooming for Money:
What is financial grooming (coming soon)
What financial grooming looks like
Sources of support (under construction)
Useful information
Coming soon
What is grooming for money?
Section coming soon - apologies for the inconvenience
What Financial Grooming Looks Like
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David's story
David was groomed online via a dating site.
Victim Support took up his case and tell his story: here
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The Fraudsters Breaking Hearts and Emptying Bank Accounts
Lizzie Cernik talks to a range of experts about the terrible heartbreak and financial loss faced by three victims who met their con artist ‘partners’ on dating sites,
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It can even happen to Richard!
Richard Branson explains how he nearly got groomed into falling for a very clever scam that sounds like something from James Bond, involving government, kidnapping, ransoms and more.
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Lovebombed
Serial cheater James Scott, AKA Gregg Wilson, met Colleen, got engaged, had a ‘miracle’ baby and was all set to get married.
Except that he defrauded Colleen’s sister for £100 thousand, and his wife Rachel and three sons knew nothing!
The BBC series: Love Bombed
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On line dating fraud
An on line dating fraud brings in the private detectives: Meet the detective exposing the online dating frauds who take advantage of lonely singletons
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Romeo 'Robert's story
South African ‘Robert’ was deliberately groomed by sick individuals on a gay online dating site, Romeo, for a beating rather than the date he was expecting.
But in addition to broken ribs, Robert had also been groomed for money
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Wendy's story
Wendy was groomed for money.
She is a professional, trained counsellor, and has shared her story because if she can be groomed, so can anyone - an important understanding for people who have been groomed. (It’s not your fault!)
Sources of Support
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Run by the police, this is the place to report fraud: Action Fraud
Action Fraud does not have investigation powers - reports taken by Action Fraud are sent to the NFIB.
The NFIB’s systems assess reports of fraud and cyber crime from across the UK, in order to build a national picture of where fraud and cyber crime is taking place and how.
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If your scammer took money from you, AnyScam have ways for you to report your scammer on their international database:
https://anyscam.com/
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Busy, Brilliant and free!
The Citizen’s Advice bureau can help you unravel your legal options: CAB
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The Action Fraud National Economic Crime Victim Care Unit (AF-NECVCU) is a team of specialist advocates that supports vulnerable people who have fallen victim to fraud and cybercrime, to make them feel safer and reduce the possibility of them becoming a repeat victim.
They tailor advice to victims’ needs to support recovery and prevent re-victimisation.
They can only advise, not investigate.
https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/economic-crime-victim-care-unit-ecvcu
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CAAGe: Sources of legal support
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Love Said is an organisation made by fraud victims for fraud victims, coming soon.
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Victim Support offers all kinds of free., confidential support to people who are suffering the consequences of crime> website
Useful information
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How to spot financial catfishing
Useful article from Catch the Catfish: Financial Scammer Catfish Red Flags
Note: What is catfishing?
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FBI: Common romance scams
FBI: Common scams and crimes - romance scams
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How to report fraud and cybercrime
Action Fraud (UK police site) explains how to report fraud and cybercrime.
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Social Media Phishing
How to spot and avoid social media phishing scams. (From Stay Safe Online)
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Transferring money safely
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Groomed for Money
The victim, who is elderly and has medical issues, had a large sum wheedled out of him by someone in a position of trust. (The victim lives in England.) CAAGe shares answers to a family’s question: Groomed for Money
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Victim Support's Response to Government Fraud Strategy
Victim Support issued a response to the Government’s new Fraud Strategy in May 2023.
We couldn’t have put it better ourselves: OK, but not ambitious enough!
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The 'Celebrity' Scam
Increasingly people are being scammed by individuals claiming to be celebrities, from famous actors and singers to TV presenters.
This article looks at someone pretending to be Nicholas Cage, and is worth reading o see how these people work:
So your partner took your money
CAAGe lead counsellor, Wendy Gregory, offers some thoughts and advice
Coming soon:
What is grooming for money/financial grooming?
Recognising ‘red flags’;
Legal rights (UK)
Research
Take action
Policing and reporting