Maria called into Liveline today to share her story of falling victim to a conman and warn other women on what to look out for. She explained to Joe that this happened to her in 2012 she met “Joe” on a dating website. She believes he is “still very active” and hopes sharing her story may help others. She told Joe how she initially met this man.
“I was contacted by Joe on a dating website and we met for coffee in Dublin. He seemed very nice. Everything was fine and we stayed in touch by text…I think it was later on the same evening or possibly the next day he contacted me to tell me that, devastating news, that he had gone back to his flat in Ranelagh and he had gone in to find it burgled…and could he stay in my house?”
Maria refused his request to stay with her, saying she didn't know him well enough. He suggested an alternative, maybe she could help him out by paying for accommodation elsewhere that evening? She did just that.
“I couldn’t stand the thought of anybody out on the street for the night so I helped him out with that…he kept assuring me that he was getting on to his bank to have his cards replaced.”
What followed was a pretty “elaborate” con, as Maria put it. If she asked for what he owed her in cash, Joe would misdirect her and promise he had lodged the money into her bank account. As time went on, Maria realised that she had been conned.
“I knew when I looked at him that I was never going to see my money again.”
Listen back to Maria’s story in full on Liveline here.