Love Scam

Con-artists are the scum of the earth, it's bad enough getting ripped off buying a faulty product, or buying into a horrid investment scam, one designed to rinse your bank account dry. Yet, there is one particular scam that I find to be the most detestable! Even worse than the ones that prey on the naive elderly, these being the infamous love scams. If you don't know what a love scam is yet, then allow me to ruin your day! It is when somebody pretends to be in love with someone else, eventually fooling their victim into giving them an extortionate amount of money. What a despicable thing! But it's true folks and the worst thing of all, is that the con artist in this scenario doesn't even stick around, they eventually ghost the person they are conning. Of course the very infamous and horrible Con Man Dan got in on this terrible trend didn't he? Oh yes, there's nothing this bastard wouldn't do for a little bit of money.

Dan signed up to an online dating website the moment he heard about the love scam, he did extensive research online about how to stand out on these romance apps. The advice suggested he use old pictures of himself when he was much younger, essentially catfishing his next victim. Not that he cared, the evil man laughed wickedly as he used the best shots of himself. Then he thought the woman would immediately run once they saw he was almost forty not thirty. So he also took new photos of himself standing next to his best, most expensive cars and other luxurious items. Dan owned a big fancy house, he made sure that was on his dating profile too! Then, when it came to the information page about himself he wrote about his extraordinary wealth, that he was the perfect gentleman who was a lawyer (a complete lie) which explained how he got so rich. Dan also wrote that he was looking for a beautiful lady to wine and dine extensively; giving her the dream/fantasy life "she's always deserved" he grinned at that last bit. Then he began. It didn't take long, only a few days before he had a few young ladies gobbling up his lies like a delicious Christmas dinner. He didn't feel bad about conning these young women, he knew most of them were simply gold diggers looking for an easy way into a life of unimaginable riches. These were the types of people Con Man Dan loved, they were like sheep in the wolves den. He knew how to earn their trust, make them love him and then suddenly he'll pretend he's in debt or has some serious illness that costs thousands of dollars to cure. In order to pull off this love scam, he needed to date someone who was already somewhat wealthy, because if he dated a girl who was quite poor she wouldn't be able to pay the unexpected bills he was going to eventually spring on them. The search for the perfect target was tough, so hard in fact he almost gave up on the scam altogether (unfortunately he didn't), one day he found her. His true love (because she was gullible and rich), her name was Scarlett Reed, a widow desperate for love. She was 38, the same age as Dan.

"Perfect!" He exclaimed, rubbing his hands like the evil genius he was. Dan asked her to meet him in Central Park on a Saturday afternoon, it was a lovely sunny day when they met and Con Man Dan was a brilliant actor. He played the role of Romeo well and truly, Scarlett was an adorably vulnerable woman, one who wanted so desperately to feel in love yet again. Dan knew he couldn't just rush right into the love scam right away, he needed her deepest trust. So for weeks that became months; Dan pretended to care for her, watching thousands of corny, unbeatably cringey romantic films. She'd cry and he'd cry too (he was a good actor). They cuddled and fucked.

"I never thought I'd fall in love again." She said, "but you're my Romeo!"

"And you're my Juliet..." He'd stroke her cute little nose. He had to admit, she was good in bed, Dan almost felt guilty for what he was preparing to do next. Almost. He called her one Tuesday night, pretending to be in great pain, "I broke my legs at work!" He told her.

"Oh my gosh!" Scarlet gasped, "but how? you're only a lawyer."

"I was hired by Tommy Samaris to get his son a reduced sentence, but I couldn't. The judge was stubborn, so yesterday I left work and a car full of his mafia exited their vehicle and beat me senselessly, I can't even walk!" He lied, then after the phone call he sent her a photo of himself in a fake hospital with bandages all over his legs. He then texted her, saying that he hadn't been paid yet and had to pay the hospital bill immediately, otherwise he'd be in some serious legal trouble. Scarlet sent him the $3,000 he requested almost instantly. The love scam had begun. Dan laughed and danced in his living room! He loved Scarlet, he did (her bank account). He continued fleecing her for more and more cash as the months went on. However, Scarlet had a younger brother named Joe, who was a 31 year old hulking, body builder. When Joe found out what Dan was doing to his sister, he came knocking on his door pretending to be a delivery man (he did work as one, so that's why he already had a uniform). Dan opened the door and said; "I didn't order any packages."

"This is a surprise gift, for being such a loyal customer." Joe lied, smiling brightly, handing Dan a wrapped cardboard box. The con man opened it excitedly, then frowned.

"There's nothing in it." Dan cried. Then Joe smiled wickedly, pushing his hands around Dan's neck and pressing forwards into the con man's home.

"Wh- who are?!" Dan screamed, then he looked more closely at Joe's face, "you're her brother!"

"That's right, you despicable con man, and you're going to give all that money you stole from Scarlet right back!"

"I- I didn't steal anything!" Dan lied, shaking his head.

"You said you broke your legs?" Joe laughed, kicking them hard.

"Ow!" Dan yelped, but still stood.

"They seem pretty fine to me!"

"That was ages ago!"

"You're not a lawyer, Dan... I checked."

"I work out of New York!"

"That's not what you told Scarlet, you lying piece of shit!" Joe slapped him, "and I don't believe that either. So you give us our money back, plus interest and I won't inform the police!"

"You have no proof!" Dan spat.

"She showed me everything you sent her, I screenshot it all. Text book Romance Scam. I know this shit! It's been done many times before. If I was a cop you'd already be arrested by now!"

Dan only gulped in reply.

"So are you going to return the money... Plus interest?" Joe asked.

"What interest?"

"An extra five grand!"

"You must be joking!" Dan laughed nervously.

"I should ask more than that!" Joe sneered, "this me being generous, how much have you stolen from my sister, huh?! 10k? 20k? 30k?!"

"16k..." Dan answered, "but listen. She won't believe you, Scarlet loves me. When I tell her what you did to me!"

"You said you'd pay her back, right?!"

"Shit..." Dan sighed, "but- but she'll ask why I gave her an extra five thousand."

"That's going into my account."

"So you're robbing me!"

"You robbed my sister!"

"I won't do it!"

"Yes you will!" Joe sucker punched him, knocking Dan to the ground, he then stood over the fallen con man and kicked his head.

"Do it!" Joe pulled Dan back up onto his feet and threw him in the direction of his computer. Dan cried like a baby as he transferred $21,000 from his own account to Scarlet and Joe's.

"That's very nice of you!" Joe laughed at the crying con man.

"I did what you wanted!" Dan wept, wiping away tears, "will you leave now?!"

"Not before you break up with my sister. Do it now. Call her, say you're no longer interested! Then, I want you to stay away from her. Forever. You understand." Joe told him.

"That will break her heart!" Dan exclaimed.

"Better this than have you steal all her money!" Joe groaned, "now call her!"

"All right!" Dan whined, then he pulled out his phone and dialed Scarlet's number.

"Hello honey!" Her beautiful sweet voice greeted him.

"I never want to see you again!" Dan screamed over the phone.

"Wha- what?!" She gasped.

"You heard me, you fat, ugly bitch! Fuck off! I was- I was just..." Dan looked in pain, Joe was surprised he even cared about her this much, "I just wanted sex. Ok. That's all. Now..." He held back tears, "now, you never talk to me again!" Then Dan hung up.

"Fine!" He exclaimed, crying hysterically, "I ended things with her, it's over! It's over!"

"Good..." Joe grumbled, "I didn't think you liked her that much. But, you were no good for her Con Man Dan. Now, I'll be keeping an eye on you scumbag. You ever come near me and Scarlet again, you're dead!"

"I believe you..." Dan nodded, watching Joe finally leave. So not every scam Con Man Dan committed was a success. That's a good thing, isn't it?