My grandma is getting scammed on facebook. Looking for help from anybody with similar experience
I apologize if this isn’t the right forum, but I’m not sure where else to turn and will delete this post if it’s not suitable here.
So, my grandma is being scammed on facebook. We tried talking to her about it, but it didn’t help, and things would be okay if she wasn’t taking loans from friends and even one from the bank. Of course, she won’t be able to pay it back, and we’ll be stuck with the bills for her mistakes. I know there’s a way to report scammers on facebook, but her scammer has a ton of fake accounts and just contacts her from a different one with another story.
We also tried to get to her phone to cut off contact with the guy, but she never leaves it alone. We’re worried about how this could financially ruin us and have become estranged from her. If anyone has been through something like this and has advice, I’d be really grateful. How did you handle it? It’s tough seeing my parents so stressed about potentially inheriting debt from someone who seems to have lost their mind (we’re not in the US, and we inherit debt here).
Heads up to new users: You might get private messages from scammers who claim they know how to get your money back for a small fee. We call these recovery scammers, so be cautious. Always take advice in the comments where the community can help you. If you receive private advice, you are on your own.
Here are some rules for this forum: no sharing personal contact info, and keep things civil. No attempts to scam back or any graphic content without blurring. You can check the sidebar for all the rules.
Help us by reporting any scammers or rule-breakers using the ‘report’ button. We look at every report. You can also warn others if you spot scammers in the comments.
If you have questions about the forum rules, feel free to message the moderators.
IsaacWilson1 said:
You can choose to not accept inheritance if the debt is more than what you would get. If it’s less, you can pay it with the inheritance.
Lydia said:
You didn’t share details about the scam. Is it a romance scam?
Hi, just so you know, AutoModerator will explain about romance scams.
Romance scammers pretend to be in love to ask for money. They often spend months building trust, claiming to be in the military, oil workers, or doctors. They’re really good at getting money repeatedly from their victims, leading to financial ruin. Those caught up in romance scams are emotionally involved and often ignore clear signs of being scammed.
If you know someone involved in a romance scam, convincing them they are being scammed is really hard. It might help to watch some shows on romance scams together. Sometimes people listen more to media than family. This video can be a good starting point: https://youtu.be/PNWM5nuOExI -
Lydia said:
You didn’t share details about the scam. Is it a romance scam?
Yes, it’s a romance scam. From what I know, he claims to be a doctor in the US who needs money to secure a future together. The latest is that they even got married (not sure how that works). We’ve cut ties with her and are hearing from another family member, so we don’t know the full story about this ‘love affair.’
@SavvyGenX
Got it… these situations are never easy. Unfortunately, unless she’s declared mentally unfit, it’s her choice to give money to a scammer or waste it.
You might want to share articles about romance scams with her. Maybe someone still in touch can do that and look for flaws in the conversations to point out.
You mentioned being worried about financial troubles… Why would that affect you?
@Lydia
Thanks for your thoughtful reply. We’ve tried explaining this to her several times, but she doesn’t listen and is acting erratically, but it’s not enough to prove she’s mentally unfit. Other family members even tried the extreme method of grabbing her phone and deleting everything, but she keeps it close and never goes out without it.
The issue is, here, debts get passed on. Just like inheriting property, you inherit debt. So once she’s gone, we’ll inherit her debts. I’d rather not say where I’m from, but it’s a strange rule here.
@SavvyGenX
Got it, though you might want to consider making a throwaway account and posting in a legal advice forum for your area to see if there’s a way out of this. This really doesn’t seem fair. lol
As for the attention, she’s surrounded by friends and family and doesn’t live alone, getting plenty of attention. But she’s burned bridges and seems fine with it if she can get money, even though everyone warned her she’s being scammed.
Andrew said:
You might want to look into getting a conservatorship. Basically, a trusted family member could become her legal guardian and manage her finances.
Thanks for the suggestion! I’ll see if something like that can be done here!
