My Dad is in his 90s with some judgement impairment and has been taken by several iterations of the scam totaling about $50,000. We have told him that it was a scam, reported it to the FBI several times and have had his city cops and social service do an intervention. We have taken him off the bank accounts and hid the account info. Nothing has worked. He now gets a credit card and borrows on it. My mother, who is also in her nineties is at her wits end.
They tell me I can’t do anything about it. As an adult, he has a right to dispose of his own money any way he sees fit. They told us my mother would have to have him declared incompetant. She is too frail to go through the process. We just hope they end up with enough to make it through their lives without Dad flushing it all to Nigeria. It infuriates me that the FBI will do nothing about it.
G*d damn these scammers. I hope they suffer in hell.
I’m terribly sorry to hear of this. I gather that there is no way that you can be declared legal guardian of them both, considering that he is placing himself and his wife in jeopardy? What an absolutely awful situation.
My prayers to you and your family.
“My Dad is in his 90s with some judgement impairment “
Consult a lawyer immediately. In your case you should be able to have him declared not competent and be named as conservator to handle his affairs.
While I totally agree with you, they are probably living fat, dumb, wicked and "happy", living in London or Paris.
It just makes me sick.
You need to see an attorney and get a power of attorney in writing. It takes 5 minutes and costs very little. Do it today. Sounds like your mom still has her buttons, so also make sure they have up to date wills on file.
At this point a good attorney will save you a lot of headaches later on. I’m surprised no one has apprised you of this.
My ex-husband had an aunt who believed every email that told her she had won an Irish or European lottery that she had never entered. I heard that she finally passed away at 90+ in a government-supported assistance living facility, damning her children for blocking her access to the millions she had *won*. It may have helped that she really liked booze.
Maybe you all should set him up with a “new” bank account where he can do “online banking” and send the scammers “money” from there?
Prayers for you and your family, it must be heartbreaking and frustrating.
You can have him declared incompetent. See a lawyer immediately. You can have them both declared incompetent.
I went through this with my mother. They would call her at 5am and try to get her to buy things knowing she was half asleep. I intercepted one of those calls when she was in the hospital. I had the pleasure of telling that woman exactly what I thought of her and her kind. You’re right. There is a special place in Hell for these people.
Hopefully, our generation won’t be such an easy mark, but then who knows what our mental state will be.
I’m very sorry to hear about your dad because he is being taken in because he is old and can’t defend himself. I don’t understand why the FBI can’t help.
I agree with those who told you to get an attorney IMMEDIATELY. Something can be done to protect your parents.
Short of that, disable his computer.
I’m so sorry to hear about your Dad being scammed. I don’t understand what the FBI is talking about - sure it’s your Dad’s money but if he’s being ripped off, law enforcement is not supposed to just stand by and let that happen!
I know this is small comfort, but if you’d like to see a little revenge against these creeps in action, check out 419eaters.com. They turn the tables on these guys and scam THEM, in hilarious ways. It’s amazing what they can get these thieves to do if they think they’re going to get money.