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URGENT WARNING!
Less than a month after the previous warning, Specialised Security Services (SSS) must once again caution the public about the ongoing threat of sweetheart scams, also known as romance scams.
On 13 November 2024, Mr. Bolhuis received a call from an extremely distressed widow who had lost R22 million of her retirement savings to such a scam. This elderly widow was frantically reaching with the hope of recovering what remained.
These scams often target vulnerable individuals, particularly the elderly or those grieving the loss of a spouse,
exploiting their trust and emotional state.
Scammers often target widows and widowers, exploiting the profound vulnerabilities that accompany grief and loneliness. With the upcoming holiday season, many elderly individuals feel the depth of their loss even more acutely,
and without family by their side, the sense of isolation can intensify. This heightened emotional state makes them particularly susceptible to scammers who use empathy and companionship as tools to gain trust and ultimately exploit them.
SSS urges children and family members to stay vigilant and
actively protect elderly parents or relatives from this pervasive crime.
MODUS OPERANDI:
Scammers often identify and find recent widows and widowers through public obituary notices, online forums, or social media.
They may also join grief support groups, either online or in person, posing as fellow mourners to connect with vulnerable individuals.
Once they make contact, scammers slowly build a relationship, often offering emotional support, understanding, and companionship.
They present themselves as kind, compassionate, and patient listeners, mirroring the widow’s or widower’s emotional needs.
They might share similar "experiences" of loss to deepen the bond, making their target feel they have found someone who truly understands their pain.
Over time, the scammer escalates the relationship, expressing romantic interest or deep friendship.
This can be especially powerful for a grieving individual who may be experiencing loneliness and an emotional void.
Scammers may use affectionate language, make future plans, and even send small gifts to make the relationship seem genuine and committed.
Once trust is firmly established, the scammer introduces a financial need, often framed as an emergency or investment opportunity.
Scenarios include:
An unexpected medical expense, legal issue, or family emergency
A lucrative business opportunity that requires a quick investment
Funds needed for travel expenses to finally meet the widow or widower in person.
They typically start with small requests to test the victim’s willingness, gradually increasing the amounts once the victim complies.
If the target hesitates, the scammer may apply subtle guilt, claiming they are in a desperate situation or expressing disappointment.
They may also threaten to end the relationship, pressuring the victim to comply with the requests to avoid losing their newfound “companion.”
Sometimes, scammers will fake an illness or crisis to push the victim into acting quickly, appealing to their empathy and desire to help someone they care about.
Scammers continue requesting money until the victim’s funds are exhausted or the victim becomes suspicious.
Once they sense that no more money is forthcoming, they may suddenly disappear, leaving the victim emotionally and financially devastated.
For many victims, especially elderly widows or widowers, the loss goes beyond financial devastation.
The emotional betrayal can lead to lasting grief, shame, and depression, making it difficult for them to trust again.
VERIFICATION OF ONLINE SUITOR:
Verifying an online romantic suitor's credentials is essential, especially as romance scams are increasingly common.
Begin with the basics: avoid befriending or becoming romantically involved with people you have only met online.
If you are not able to meet them face-to-face, it is best not to pursue a relationship.
Instead, focus on meeting new people in person within your neighbourhood, church, or community - ideally through friends or acquaintances who can vouch for their integrity.
While no approach is entirely foolproof, building relationships locally and through trusted connections is generally safer than forming connections with strangers online.
Conduct a reverse image search using Google Image Search, TinEye, or other reverse image search tools to check if their profile photo appears elsewhere on the internet.
Scammers often use stock photos or images of other people, so if the same photo appears on multiple profiles or sites, it is a red flag.
Look for their presence on social media platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, or Instagram.
Real profiles tend to have consistent information, connections, and history over time.
Be cautious if their profile seems too new, lacks personal posts or connections, or has few followers - signs that it may be fake or recently created.
Pay attention to details about their background, career, and family life.
Scammers often have fabricated stories that are vague, inconsistent, or overly idealistic.
If you notice discrepancies in what they say from one conversation to another, this could indicate deception.
Suggest a video call to verify that they look and sound like the person in their photos and description.
Scammers often avoid video calls, make excuses, or use poor-quality connections to avoid revealing their true identity.
Without prying, ask about aspects of their life that can be verified, like their workplace, hometown, or education.
You can cross-check professional claims on LinkedIn or ask for a website or email associated with their supposed job to confirm.
Be aware of typical patterns used in romance scams - red flags include:
Quickly professing love or deep emotional connection.
Avoiding personal details and instead mirroring your preferences.
Sudden "emergencies" or requests for money.
Claiming to be a successful professional with international work (often used to justify not meeting in person).
A genuine person would not ask for financial assistance early in a relationship.
If your suitor suddenly needs money for a crisis, travel costs, or investments, this is a common scam tactic.
Ask for contact information and verify it independently.
For example, if they give a workplace or phone number, confirm the details by researching the company's official website or contact directory.
If you're tech-savvy, you can check the IP address from email headers (for non-anonymous email services) to see if their location matches their claims.
While not foolproof, it can help reveal if they are contacting you from a different country.
If you are still uncertain and the relationship is becoming serious, consider using a reputable background check service.
This step can verify major claims, such as their employment, marital status, and criminal background.
Victims of Sweetheart Scams often suffer not only financial losses but also emotional trauma and a sense of betrayal.
It is crucial to remain vigilant, verify information from multiple sources, and seek advice from trusted friends or
family members before making significant financial decisions or commitments in any relationship.
A FEW PREVIOUS WARNING PROJECTS AND EXAMPLES OF SIMILAR CASES:
IF YOU BELIEVE THAT YOU HAVE BEEN A VICTIM YOURSELF OR IF YOU THINK ANYONE YOU CARE FOR
IS IN A SIMILAR AND VULNERABLE SITUATION, CONTACT MR MIKE BOLHUIS IMMEDIATELY.
Specialised Security Services invites the public to the Mike Bolhuis Daily Projects WhatsApp Group.
This group is important in delivering insights into the latest crime trends, awareness, warnings and the exposure of criminals.
HOW TO JOIN THE MIKE BOLHUIS DAILY PROJECTS WHATSAPP GROUP:
Follow the link to our WhatsApp group:
"JOIN" to ensure you never miss our daily updates.
You will receive automatic notifications as soon as a new project is posted.
CONTACT MR MIKE BOLHUIS FOR SAFETY AND SECURITY MEASURES, PROTECTION, OR AN INVESTIGATION IF NEEDED.
ALL INFORMATION RECEIVED WILL BE TREATED IN THE STRICTEST CONFIDENTIALITY AND EVERY IDENTITY WILL BE PROTECTED.
Regards,
Mike Bolhuis
Specialist Investigators into
Serious Violent, Serious Economic Crimes & Serious Cybercrimes
PSIRA Reg. 1590364/421949
Mobile: +27 82 447 6116
E-mail: mike@mikebolhuis.co.za
Fax: 086 585 4924
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EXTREMELY IMPORTANT: All potential clients need to be aware that owing to the nature of our work as specialist investigators there are people who have been caught on the wrong side of the law - who are trying to discredit me - Mike Bolhuis and my organisation Specialised Security Services - to get themselves off the hook. This retaliation happens on social media and creates doubt about our integrity and ability. Doubt created on social media platforms is both unwarranted and untrue. We strongly recommend that you make up your minds concerning me and our organisation only after considering all the factual information - to the exclusion of hearsay and assumptions. Furthermore, you are welcome to address your concerns directly with me should you still be unsatisfied with your conclusions. While the internet provides a lot of valuable information, it is also a platform that distributes a lot of false information. The distribution of false information, fake news, slander and hate speech constitutes a crime that can be prosecuted by law. Your own research discretion and discernment are imperative when choosing what and what not to believe.
STANDARD RULES APPLY: Upon appointment, we require a formal mandate with detailed instructions. Please take note that should you not make use of our services – you may not under any circumstance use my name or the name of my organisation as a means to achieve whatever end.
POPI ACT 4 of 2013 South Africa: Mike Bolhuis' "Specialised Security Services" falls under Section 6 of the act. Read more here: https://mikebh.link/fntdpv
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