We know that for as wonderful as the internet can be, there are also plenty of terrible people in the world who use it to attack, hurt, and scam the vulnerable. Case in point: a 74-year-old woman named Norma recently appeared on Dr. Phil, where she admitted to sending more than $250,000 to three separate online boyfriends to allegedly help them get back to the US.
- It’s a blatant scam, but Norma can’t see it. Despite the fact that she’s never met any of her online boyfriends face to face and that nothing has come of the quarter of a million dollars she’s sent their way, she still insists she’s not being scammed. It’s unclear why she so stubbornly refuses to see the truth, but it’s safe to say the situation has gotten completely out of hand.
- Things have gotten so bad, Norma’s son Rodney and his wife Cindy have had to step in. They’ve tried everything they can to get Norma to realize that her so-called online boyfriends aren’t boyfriends at all, they’re scammers who will destroy her life and take every last cent she has (and doesn’t have). Norma still won’t listen.
- Nothing can stop Norma from sending these men money. “She has put money in shoeboxes, wiring the money through, like, Western Union, until they shut her down. Her bank was letting her wire money, and then they shut her down,” Rodney told Dr. Phil. “She ended up resorting to sending it through mail.” Cindy added that she was “astonished” that this situation was even occurring since “Norma has never been very generous with her money.”
- Even getting power of attorney over Norma’s finances hasn’t helped. She’s still continued to find ways to send money overseas and refuses to stop. She’s refinanced her home and taken out loans in order to continue sending it. It’s mind-blowing!
- Sadly, Norma is far from alone. There are so many stories out there about older women being taken advantage of by online scammers who simply want to capitalize on their loneliness. Here’s hoping someone is able to help her see the truth and bring these “boyfriends” to justice soon so they can no longer hurt anyone else.
