Not so long ago, I got a friend request on Facebook. Martin Allaway wished to be friends with me, and I must say, I felt quite honored.
Mr Allaway was an 82 years old Scottish man, and need I say, a man of God. He was severely sick with a terrible case of lung cancer, and desperately needed me to spread his hardly earned wealth to different charities.
Wow! I accepted his friendship gladly, and we started exchanging messages right away. He was very eager to share banking information, because of his short life expectancy… But I kind of disagreed. I prefered to get to know each other a little better first. I wrote long messages about my hopes and dreams, and my exciting job, and he insisted that he had tons of money to give to the poor, and needed me to stop the chit chat and get to business.
Some friends of mine had doubts about Martin. I was a bit disappointed in them, but I did search Mr Allaway’s profile just to prove them wrong. Ok, he only had one picture, but he wasn’t from the selfie generation! Not many friends? He was 82! Most of his friends and family were probably dead… To say the truth, it didn’t take me too long to check his information, because there was very little to verify.
Martin wrote to me everyday, long messages about the inheritage he wanted to leave to the sick and the needy. I eluded the subject for a while, trying to convince him to come visit me in Montréal… But it seemed that his health issues didn’t allow him to travel this far. I suggested that I could come and see him. That way, we could really bond, and then I’d feel more comfortable taking care of his money! I could just imagine going to Loch Ness together, and giggling, taking pictures wearing matching kilts…
But it always came back to the money, and I must say I felt a little uncomfortable. It seemed to me that Martin didn’t know me enough to give me such responsabilities… What if I wasn’t good with money and the like?? He couldn’t tell so fast if I was worthy of his full trust! I sure didn’t feel that trustworthy! What if I was tempted to run away with his fortune, after having him transfer all of it into my French Canadian girl’s bank account??
The old man kept telling me that he knew that I was a child of God and that I would handle the task just as he had planned it. That’s when it hit me.
“How have you found me, Martin?” I asked my good friend one evening. So glad to share the good times with my Scottish pal, I had forgotten to check why he wanted to be my friend. We had no mutual friend, and nothing in common…
Martin tried the “God guided me to you…” reply a couple of times. But I doubted that. God knows I am not the best fit for that kind of “take my wealth and spread it to the poor” quest. I for one, would have chosen a banker, or a lawyer, or someone with a tie! And I am pretty sure God is better than me at taking decisions…
And suddenly, the messages stopped! Just like he had popped into my life, Martin disappeared.
I was devastated.
I did a little research. I found some information about a Martin Allaway trying to cyber-scam people in Pittsburgh. It was totally him!! 82, soon dying of lung cancer and claiming to have lots of cash to give to the poor! It was my Martin!!
I understood…
What a shame… Losing a friend over such a detail. It was kind of my fault too, I had expressed such excitment, knowing he was from Scotland. Martin probably felt terribly guilty for not telling me he was in fact in Pennsylvania…
Geez, I miss Martin.
Penguin Prompt: Week 7 – Friendship
I think his cousin tried to hire me for a contract to build a website… only his graphic designer couldn’t accept credit cards so he was gonna pay me 10 times my fee so I could then in turn pay the graphic designer in cash… seemed about as legit as could be to me but my friends advised against working with him. Poor Martin and his whole family!
LikeLiked by 2 people
OMG, yes… there is definately a link there!!
Bless them all… 😉
LOL
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think I know Martin’s great nephew once removed! He’s a Pennsylvanian living in Scotland and has all these funds to disburse to “good people’ who will do God’s work and share the wealth! We’ve been talking for a while now, and I am concerned about him…he’s called Marvin..very close to Martin that’s why I think he may be related. Poor boy has a canker..I think he means cancer, but his spelling is awful! It could be a result of his brain surgery on his gluteus maximus! He just had the surgery last year you know.
LikeLiked by 2 people
OMG OMG OMG!!! That’s him! OMG! Try to get his adress… I’ll ask Colin to go to his house and take pictures through the window!! Oh my Oh my Oh my!! I am SO excited!!! LOL
LikeLiked by 1 person
Please tell me that you didnt really think this was Legit?
It is clearly the biggest scam on the face of the planet
LikeLiked by 2 people
LOL I’ll take this as a compliment, sweet Giant! you really believed my story?
Well in fact, I did talk for a while with a scammer like that, and pretty much all the story is true, except that I knew all along about the scam, and just kept him on the hook because during the time he wrote to me, he wasn’t bothering someone gullible 😉
PLUS, it was quite entertaining…. 😉
LikeLiked by 2 people
I just had to check. I have known people in the past who have genuinely fallen for scams like this so i just wanted to make sure
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know 🙂 And it is a good thing to set things straight… too many people get caught by those scammers! They can be smooth talkers!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Some of them are convincing but you have to be really gullible to fall for it. That’s why they prey on the elderly
LikeLiked by 2 people
so long as they don’t pray at the same time it should be okay..those lightning bolts from heaven are painful….
LikeLiked by 1 person
Now Colin…the way you just asked Cry that question makes me feel as if you are trying to keep Cry from getting the money she so richly deserves! I bet you KNOW where Marvin lives, don’t ya?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhh don’t tell her that.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Are you two talking in my back?? 😛
LikeLike
Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo *gently pats your tiny head* don’t worry shorty it would only go over your head 😜
LikeLiked by 1 person
Can you even see it from up there? Or did you just pat blindly trying to aim towards the annoying little voice? 😛
LikeLike
Blindly towards the little voice.
😝😝
LikeLiked by 1 person
Mouarf!! Be careful, I am at your shoe laces’ level 😛
LikeLike
Mouarf?
Well while you’re there can you tie them for me? But not together… I’m. On to you
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ll be nice…. For today 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good. Thank you ☺️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Mouahahahahahaahahah
LikeLike
Nice ❤ ❤ ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you 🙂 xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m with Colin on this one. Scam. Marvin/Martin is probably some guy in a Pennsylvanian trailer park eating potato chips and catfishing little old ladies. Sorry. :o(
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hey… are you calling me old?? (LOL)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha! Um….noooo. It kinda sounds like that, doesn’t it though? Rewrite: …..catfishing sweet Canadian girls.
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂 I like it better LOL
LikeLiked by 1 person
Maybe he and this Nigerian prince I know could each other. Tax problems, you know how it is. Lol
LikeLiked by 2 people
Mouahahahahaha they should exchange phone numbers 🙂 I’m sure they could team up! But they’ll have to make it quick, due to illness, you know!? 😛
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yes of course!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Shame to lose such a great friend over a silly thing like location. 😉 ❤
LikeLiked by 2 people
It would have… Except the man was a fraud, and he ignored me just because I made it clear that I was aware of the scam he was trying to pull on me 😉
In other circumstances, distance would have been a sad reason for losing a friend, though…
LikeLike
I did get that…I was trying to be funny. LOL I don’t think that came across. oops! Fail. 😉 😉 😉 😉 I had a prince follow me on instagram. He has fancy photoshopped pictures of himself with exotic animals. I’m more offended that he thinks pictures of himself with wild animals is anything less than cruel and would impress me than I am with the fact that he is clearly a fraud. I mean come on Prince…know your audience!) ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
LOOOOOOL you got me! I was starting to think “should I put a warning?” LOL I started working at 5am, I am obviously tired…. MOuahahahahahahahahaahaha
LikeLiked by 1 person
Boy, you dodged a bullet on this one. I posted it anyway because some people would actually fall for that nonsense. Thanks for sharing, ☺☺
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hehehehe Thank you 🙂
Yeah, I joke about it, but a lot of people do fall for the incredibly weird stories these scammers pull out. Manipulation is an art, and some people have no shame in using it to do harm to others…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on anita dawes and jaye marie.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much 🙂 Very appreciated!!
I hope to see you again soon around The Cove 🙂 xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
You have so much compassion and caring. I really appreciate you! Thanks 🙂 Great contribution to Nikki’s creative prompt. Debbie
LikeLike
true that! maybe you can read my blogs too..sometimes.. 🙂
LikeLike
You got a big heart friend….. great job…..
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for the kind words 🙂 xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have Scottish heritage you know. Small country. We may be related.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Who knows?? You should check and get in touch if you are related… He might put you on his will 😛
LikeLiked by 1 person
If you are talking to Martin you might mention that a relative has fallen on hard times then. Thanks.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Will do, with pleasure 😉
LikeLike
Love it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Sascha 🙂 xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great! Enjoyed reading it
LikeLike
So a few days ago, I got an email from a woman who claimed that she found me on LinkedIn. I thought she wanted to talk about some professional thing, so I replied back asking how I could help her. She replied with this totally cheesy mail giving me random details about her life. She said that she was from the US and worked in the army and was in Afghanistan for some mission. (Being from US, her english wasn’t that good, it clicked me something was wrong). In that mail, she attached two photos of herself. (I did a LinkedIn search for her name trying to match with the photos she sent. but didn’t find her). She asked about me and I gave some details about myself in another mail.
Then came a third mail from this lady which made me feel that she was a lesbian and was somehow attracted to me (Ok I get weirdo thoughts). However, one thing in that mail clicked me. She said that she doesn’t use social media. It struck me hard that she had not even replied to the questions I had asked her. She was all blabbering about how she wanted to be friends with me. I also ignored everything and asked if you aren’t using social media, then how come you found me on linkedin.
Then came the revelation– she claimed to have some thousands of dollars and wanted me to help her transfer all of it to my country. She sought all bank details, and various proofs. And I just decided to leave it there.
I am very suspicious of random ppl sending msgs and mails and getting over friendly.
LikeLike