Legend2000, Sorry to hear this happened to you and others and good you are exposing it.

When I "loan" money to ANYONE my going in position has always been, I'm never going to see that money again, realise probably a bit cynical but a good way to be sometimes.

Most recent "loan" I heard of personally was a a close friend who loaned a Canadian woman ~$7k, she was a lady friend he'd met online (not a dating/sex site) and each had travelled to spend time together etc., he'd met her young daughter, been talk of her moving here or him to Canada. Suddenly radio silence.