The reality:::::: :I sent $5000 in Moneypak to
The Story:::::::: German born and citizen, US green card, James Folka Mesut on 1/15/14, after meeting him on OurTime (he removed his profile 2 days later), to help him pay a $100,000 tax obligation to the Philippine government before they would release his 6 figure payment.
He was flowery and romantic, sent schmalzy love songs and referred to roses and destiny and true love, and I was everything he was looking for (apparently loose pockets, too).
I discovered the scam unfortunately AFTER I provided the money, from RipoffReport (a similar complaint, also from Des Moines, on January 7) and through this website (THANK YOU!!!).
He has asked $10000 as of yesterday to buy 4 plane tickets from Manila Philippines to Des Moines, so he can return "home" after 10 months in the Philippines, and bring his 2 adult children and 1 grandchild with him, to finish their holiday break from Bremen University in Germany, where they have lived with family, since his wife and home were lost in Katrina in 1995. He repeatedly cites "frozen bank accounts" as to why he doesn't have the money needed, and that he must (and is prohibited in some way) pay "x" in order to receive "y".
A compilation of information from myself, and then that gleaned from other scam complaints:
MY INFORMATION: James Folka Mesut. [email protected] (both email and yahoo chat (he claims to not have a webcam)) Primary phone used for both phone and text (and still active as of today 1/20/14) 551-226-8501, caller ID showing Weehawken NJ. Initially most emails received 1-5 am. He answered the phone when I called him.. a higher-pitched (younger than 60, as claimed?) voice with an accent of some sort and a poor connection. I had trouble understanding him on the phone so we subsequently primarily emailed, texted and yahoo chatted. found no prior complaints of this number
He texted from 515-259-0911 Jan 1 2am through 11:34pm Jan 7 (note other complaint is as of 1/7, and "Kathy" used this number, too), He could send, but said he was not receiving my texts, so we switched.
He started using 551-226-8501 1/6/14 12:32pm, and as of right now, that number is still in service. (He is still trying to convince me to send $10000)
INFORMATION I RECEIVED FROM OTHER INTERNET COMPLAINTS:
Aliases: James Folka Mesut, Bob Steed, Dr Clifford Rose
Phone numbers: 806-318-6064 (where most complaints are found), 515-259-0911 (Grimes IA), 551-226-8501 (Weehawken NJ), "1-249-9685 (somewhere around Fairfax VA)
His stated home: Des Moines, Des Moines, Fairfax, Phoenix, referenced New Orleans and Columbus OH
Accent: yes "slight British" "not like a white man" huh?
Widowed: consistently. Katrina in '95, 10 years ago, 2 years ago (ovarian cancer)
Location: pretty consistently Philippines (working there, stranded there)
On dating sites: OurTime (profile name bristenewman1 ), SeniorPeople meet. and Match.com
emails: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
Children Yes, OR had, and died/
occupations: mechanical engineer, geologist/engineer, dentist
Stacey
Texas,#2Consumer Comment
Tue, January 21, 2014
They have no shame!!! Run across them all the time and the biggest giveaway is they cannot SPELL or use Sentences. Sorry for your loss. Just tell that scammer to F off and cut your losses while you can. Take care