Lonely Woman Gets Scammed $25K Looking for Love Online

Here is the sad story of Joan Romano, a 53-year-old Long Island divorcee who works as an office manager for a rheumatologist, and in her spare time cares for her disabled brother and elderly mother, both of whom live with her. She's lonely and vulnerable, and turned to the Internet for succor, finding a connection on Match.com with a man who said he was a U.S. soldier serving in Afghanistan. But people suck, and the Internet makes them ten times worse: Romano's longing for companionship was exploited by a grifter who took her on a $25,000 ride.

Newsday reports (paywall) that during the six month long virtual romance, the man, who said his name was Sgt. Austin Miller and, later Sgt. Austin Newman, asked her to send a laptop so they could stay in touch more easily. So she purchased one and sent it to an address he provided... in Ghana. Then he told her he needed her to pay the customs fees on the laptop, so she wired him money for that. Once that threshold was crossed, the con artist persuaded Romano to "loan him" tens of thousands of dollars over the next months.

And after the man refused to pay her back, Romano finally confirmed she was being scammed when she searched online for information about the man and found pictures of him on a site about impostors. She filed a complaint with the FBI in June, and tells CBS2, "This should never happen. It’s a disgrace and anyone that’s going to impersonate a U.S. soldier deserves to be punished." But they'll probably never find the guy; a spokesman for the Army's Criminal Investigation Command tells Newsday these con artists "run their operations out of Internet cafes on other continents where there are legal 'jurisdictional issues.' They'll set up an operation, work it a couple weeks and move on."

For extra sadness, check out this CBS2 segment; Romano starts crying at the 1:30 mark. Anyway, here's her profile; would some halfway decent human being please take her out for a nice dinner?

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By John Del Signore in News on October 13, 2010 11:07 AM

Comments [rss]

hanbush

Hello Good Sir Madam,

I am prince of US army and I think you look fabulous.

Send money for armor vestx5.

Love

General Odwale Kunjobi Johnson

Streetsmartz

I know it's a shocking thing but you can get off a computer and meet someone.

Streetsmartz

People get off the Internet and go meet someone face to face. There is a life outside the computer. Harder to get scammed face to face. Too bad she learned the hard way.

JenChungsBaby

I wonder what picture SHE'S using online.

jrrrrz

full time job, caring for relatives... Sure she had plenty of time to go out.

HairyG

Check out hilarious cases of people scamming the scammers. 419eater.com is worth checking out if you want to see some nigerian scammers taken for a ride in some of the most outrageous and humorous ways imanginable.

John L

So sad.

Loneliness creates desperation.

What's the point in telling her how dumb she is, I'm sure she's not particularly proud of herself already.

When I look at her situation I see very nice woman who was swindled by a con artist, not a dumb person just a person who was naive for love and who hasn't been at some point. It almost seems like the money is secondary to her and her sadness is more in the deception that she thought she found love and it was all fake. I hope she finds what she is looking for because seems like a very deserving, selfless woman who just needs some companionship.

She's not the first, nor will she be the last.

I'm glad she's speaking out so others like her can be more cautious.

Joan Romano you're a nice good person who was preyed upon by a professional con artist, it happens. Don't ever send someone money again! But keep being the wonderful person you are and you'll find the right person soon enough.

militza

her personal situation sounds sad and I'm sure it took a toll on her. not surprised it reached such a state but Rocknrope has it right...you see and believe what you want to see and believe.

FelixtheCat Christine Quinns

I afghani responded to them with my free account and provide them with fake information to mess with them. Lol.

Rocknrope

There are groups dedicated to baiting the Nigerian scammers, and what they do is often hilarious. One guy made the scammer and his friend act out the entire "Dead Parrot" sketch from Monty Python and put it on youtube.

Check out www.419eater.com for the hilarity, or type it into youtube.

FelixtheCat Christine Quinns

LOL

ANGRYGOD11

I still get spam from someone in Africa offering me a cut of impounded millions if I help them by putting up some of my money.

I always wanted to write back and ask: How did you (or your dead relative) legally make that kind of money in that corrupt hellhole and why shouldn't it be seized?

JacqueMehoff

I tried writing back, but they asked for too much stuff. but usually they stop after I tell them I have nothing and can they give me some of that money on faith.

you know, since I have nothing to lose.

ANGRYGOD11

NEVER WRITE BACK.

It establishes that email address as active and valid for much more spam. It fact, its flagged for other spammers to attack.