My Scam Story #13

A Romance Scam Victim/Survivor’s Story

Survivor’s Origin: USA

This is the original victim’s story, enhanced by the SCARS Institute Editorial Team to improve comprehension, readability, and continuity.

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My Scam Story

On November 3, 2022, I received a friend request on Instagram from a man named “Michael Williams.” He presented himself as a widower without children, working as a petrochemical engineer on a ship near Oslo, Norway. Our relationship quickly became intense and seemingly sincere.

Within days, Williams began requesting small favors, initially asking for a $300 Apple gift card to upgrade his computer. To build trust, he sent photos of his supposed “Florida Driver’s License” and “U.S. Passport,” which appeared authentic to me at the time. Unfortunately, these documents later turned out to be fake.

Williams soon expressed his desire to return to the United States, but he claimed he needed substantial financial help. He requested $6,200 to buy out his employment contract, $5,000 as a replacement fee, and $2,500 for helicopter transport to the Netherlands, where he would supposedly access his bank account and repay me. Additionally, he planned to retrieve a briefcase containing his life savings from Glasgow, UK, promising a comfortable future together in Tampa, Florida. He even went as far as proposing marriage to solidify our commitment.

Shortly after he claimed to have reached shore in Norway, Williams told me he collapsed at the airport and required emergency medical treatment. A supposed doctor named “Dr. Kjell Thomas” contacted me, requesting $24,400 for surgeries, medical treatments, and $5,000 for medications. Another person claiming to be Williams’ former boss, “Roy Alexander,” asked for an additional $8,000 for travel documents and helicopter transportation to the Netherlands.

In the Netherlands, Williams introduced “Edward Jones,” claiming to be his financial advisor from Rabo Bank International. Jones asked for $2,705.49 to reopen Williams’ bank account and an additional $4,000 to reactivate it, assuring me this was necessary to receive repayment for all the funds I had already provided.

In total, I sent 13 wire transfers amounting to $57,805.49, plus $260 in transfer fees, and $13,714.45 in gift cards, totaling $71,779.94. Despite numerous assurances, Williams has not repaid any amount since arriving in the Netherlands in January 2023. He continued requesting money, including a $500 Apple gift card, which I could no longer afford.

Following my older sister’s advice, I used Google’s reverse image search tool and discovered the photos Williams sent belonged to a Turkish journalist and TV anchor named Hakan Celik. This confirmed my suspicions of being scammed.

On April 1, 2023, a man named “David Calaster” contacted me on Instagram. Despite my recent experience, I cautiously entered into another online relationship. Calaster claimed to be a drilling engineer working off the coast of Poland, a widowed single father of a 12-year-old daughter, Clara.

About a month into our relationship, Calaster discussed plans to visit me in Tennessee but said his bank accounts were frozen due to military regulations. He convinced me to pay various fees for transportation from his location to Knoxville, promising repayment and a future together. Between May 11 and May 21, 2023, I transferred $26,800, deposited an additional $6,460 directly into a Regions Bank account, and spent on gift cards, totaling $44,160.

On June 9, 2023, I received a distressing message from “Dr. Abdul” at Tabet Sayid Hospital in Syria, claiming Calaster had been attacked by the Taliban and needed immediate medical funds. Believing this, I sent another $14,497.97, bringing my total losses to $58,657.97.

Between May and August 2023, I repeatedly told Calaster I had exhausted my finances. He then sent a fraudulent $4,500 check, encouraging me to open a new bank account. The check bounced, and the bank closed the account. After continuous unsuccessful requests for more money, Calaster abruptly ended our relationship, accusing me of abandoning him.

Further investigation revealed that the photos Calaster used belonged to an internet marketer from Hungary named Bela Polocsanyi. Known online as “the man with many names,” Polocsanyi’s images are extensively used by scammers.

Amid these events, a third individual, “Daniel Dalley,” claiming to be retired Sergeant Major Daniel A. Dailey, initiated contact on Instagram. Dalley shared an elaborate but false life story about losing his wife to cancer and achieving the highest military ranks. Upon confronting him with evidence contradicting his claims, he disappeared from social media.

Attempting to inform the real Sergeant Major Dailey about the impersonation, I inadvertently engaged with another imposter. On July 27, 2023, believing I was communicating with the real Dailey, I requested help to rescue Calaster. Dailey referred me to the “United Nations Administration Management (UNAM),” demanding fees for investigative services. I paid $3,500 initially, followed by an additional $5,500 when more funds were requested. UNAM continued pressuring me for more payments, but I could no longer afford it and never received any reimbursement.

Ultimately, I discovered that the real Sergeant Major Daniel A. Dailey and his wife work at AUSA in Washington, D.C., confirming yet another elaborate deception.

It took these three devastating scams for me to fully acknowledge the reality of my situation. I blocked all scammers, ceased all communication, informed my family, and sought psychological help. Through my psychologist, I discovered SCARS.

Financially, I lost all my savings, depleted my retirement income, and now face compromised credit. Banks have closed my credit cards, flagging them for fraudulent transactions. Professionally, I had always advised others against exactly these pitfalls, making my experience especially painful and humiliating.

Today, I can no longer plan confidently, a devastating outcome for someone who thrives on structured planning. Each morning, I wake up grateful to be alive and surviving this ordeal. My current focus is simply taking life day by day, determined to recover and rebuild, though I now approach the future without expectations, embracing uncertainty and resilience.

SCARS Institute Notes:

-/ 30 /-

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