I'm a young widow. After careful consideration and because I am new to Georgia, I decided to join Match.com to meet someone. I did not post my photograph at first, just my profile.
I receive a wink from a man named Brian Schneider and he used his name as his user password. I winked back, and he sent me an e-mail. He suggested I get a yahoo account so we could IM each other, and I did.
Within the first week, Brian was professing his undying love for me. He said he had been married for fifteen years, and his wife cheated on him with his best friend. He said he had been divorced for 5 years, and his ex and his 15 year old son Andrew lived in Texas. I gave Brian my home telephone number, and he called me. Now he had stated in his writing he was German, but when I spoke with him on the phone I told him his accent was more like from Haiti or Jamaica-definately not German. His photo was posted on match, as well as in the Yahoo account. White male, looked younger than 48, average looking, with a big smile.
Second week Brian annouced that he would miss me terribly, when I asked why-he said he would be traveling to purchse more gems for his company for two weeks-he was going to Africa. He called me the day after travel, and gave me a long telephone number to jot down. We spoke once or twice, and he later said his laptop crashed. I was online reading current news and events when I watched news of a man who's photo was stolen and put on match. I also read all the "Romance Scammers" websites and the red flags to look for and I was totally stunned. Brian met every red flag-everyone except asking me for money.
I wrote Brian and e-mail I was furious that he had matched all the red flags, and wanted answers. He said he didn't know who was filling my head with lies, and became very angry. I wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt.
I researched online for his name and the address he had given me. I found a photograph of a older gentleman living at the address Brian gave. The phone number was disconnected, and there is no record of Andrew Schneider in all 50 states. I wrote Brian an e-mail last night still concerned for his well being as he said there is a lot of violence in Africa he is scheduled to leave there and return to the states the end of the month.
Today I received what I call the cherry on the sundae - A request from Brian if I want him to get home safely I should buy him a laptop and send it to him right away. He cannot purchase it himself because according to him he freezes all his bank accounts and credit cards when leaving the states to avoid theft. He had a bad experience in Malaysia while he was there purchasing gems, someone stole his bank information. YEAH RIGHT.
I have countless e-mails and IM from Brian Schneider-but who is he really. I am thankful to God that I didn't part with any money for this Brian Schneider, but none the less I feel violated and betrayed-he is definately one of those Nigerian scammers.
Match.com is not protecting their consumers at all - I totally agree with the gentleman who wrote his report about match.com. My advise to every woman out there is that this website is not safe - and do your research on Romance Scammers if you even decide to join one of the websites such as match.com. The photograph you are looking at could be some great guy who is already married, and doesn't even know his photo has been stolen and used online. Be weary... No one can protect you but you. If this has happened to you to please write a report, we have a responsibility to inform the public.
Linda
Loganville, Georgia
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