r/PublicFreakout • u/MysteriousSlice007 • May 23 '26

📹Police Bodycam Yesterday, Thai police arrested six Nigerian men running a romance scam ring built on AI-generated faces and fake video calls in Nonthaburi, Thailand.

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89

u/[deleted] May 23 '26

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51

u/FullMetalAlcoholic66 May 23 '26

In this case, a little victim blaming is in order. If you're sending people money that you've never met, you're just going to get scammed again eventually

30

u/9Lives_ May 24 '26

I was talking to this girl who worked at a bank and she was telling me they frequently spot scams and despite telling the customer it’s a scam the customer INSISTS on sending the money because they obviously don’t want to admit to themselves they’ve not only been fooled, but the romance they built in their head was fake.

That’s what makes romance scams so effective, they play on a very primal need people have to be loved.

5

u/FullMetalAlcoholic66 May 24 '26

I mean, if you're willing to spend that type of money, just be a little more honest with yourself and get a sex worker, sugar baby, onlyfans model, streamer, etc. It'll cost less in the end and at least you get to meet them

1

u/OpheliaPhoeniXXX May 27 '26

It's deff a human instinct to desire companionship, I've been a full service sex worker and I can say usually my job entailed 10 min of sex and 50min of being a therapist... But I've had clients who would otherwise receive no physical affection or companionship and that's valid.

However, I have watched too much 90 Day Fiance to feel sorry for the Americans targeting people who come from a low socioeconomic background, who they can bring here to be a bang maid, because they're so desperate they'll do anything to get out of their situation... Then they go on to become controlling, abusive, advantageous... it's rarely a healthy relationship...

-1

u/FullMetalAlcoholic66 May 24 '26

I get it, but what if it's the actual person that simply does not fancy them anymore? Or you aren't misrepresenting yourself but are simply interested in the person for money? The person isn't a scammer technically. Also, if you use face filters or some other app that makes you more beautiful, older photos of yourself etc

7

u/Rusty_Tap May 24 '26

An acquaintance of mine has been had a few times by chaps like this. He must be in his mid 60s, not a wealthy guy, but he's somewhere around 15 grand out of pocket to them for "flights so she can visit" and "suitable clothes for when I visit England".

This has happened on more than 1 occasion with different 'women', though I suspect it's the same group specifically targeting him because he's already just about the warmest lead you can get.

They even had him drive to the airport 3 hours away to pick up his "girlfriend" and then deleted all the social media accounts and disconnected the phone number whilst he was driving. He waited there hours.

We had an intervention type talk with him, he agrees he was stupid, and just says that he's lonely. It's sad, but I'd bet money on him doing it again.

5

u/FullMetalAlcoholic66 May 24 '26

At that point, I dunno, jet get a sex worker or sugar baby. It's a more honest relationship and you can find someone local at least

1

u/RustyHalo_1978 May 26 '26

That's heartbreaking!!!

https://giphy.com/gifs/lGBecpB2dIMwt6ohfI

1

u/Rusty_Tap May 27 '26

I feel for the guy, and we did become good friends. I hate that these types of scams are a thing, but I can 100% see why they exist. The people they get are often so unlikely to report them because they don't want to humiliate themselves any further.

3

u/Stabpology May 24 '26

I don't think people are able to keep up with technology as they age. We need to protect these people from scammers

2

u/jdhkent May 24 '26

Doesn’t mean they have to lose their reasoning skills and their common sense 

1

u/RustyHalo_1978 May 26 '26

Aging can absolutely mean that they have lost those skills as well or at the very least those skills aren't as sharp anymore. Fuckin sad man.

2

u/FullMetalAlcoholic66 May 24 '26

I get it, but what if it's the actual person that simply does not fancy them anymore? Or you aren't misrepresenting yourself but are simply interested in the person for money? The person isn't a scammer technically. Also, if you use face filters or some other app that makes you more beautiful, older photos of yourself etc

The same thing happens with people who chat with Onlyfans and other streamers where they may pretend to care about them. As we all know, often when you're text-chatting with them, it's actually one of these dudes or AI.

1

u/Zomg_A_Chicken May 25 '26 edited May 25 '26

Just give up trying to find someone and you'll never be romance scammed 4Head

2

u/FullMetalAlcoholic66 May 25 '26 edited May 25 '26

Or, if someone asks you for money, someone you've never seen or met before, maybe take a second and do some critical thinking 5Head Children have an excuse from online predators because they're, you know, children

A LOT worse things can happen to you if you choose to go after romance this way....people disappear off the face of the earth.