Even a Psychologist Was Fooled! Three Love Stories with Scammers

Michael’s relationship with Charlize Theron nearly ruined his life. Ilona fell in love with an American engineer and almost lost a significant amount of money. Natalia married a scammer and had two children with him. All three of our protagonists are successful, accomplished adults with their own businesses or top managerial positions. Why did they fall for scammers? Together with A1 as part of the campaign to protect Belarusians from scammers, we share their stories, with commentary from psychologist Yulia Darafeeva.

Ilona and Clinton: “Women Are Not to Blame for Wanting Love”

“You don’t have to be foolish to fall for scammers. It’s enough to just want to be loved,” reflects Ilona (name changed). Her story happened five years ago. Ilona was almost 40, working as a top manager in a Belarusian company, studying psychology, divorced, and raising a daughter. “Hello, I liked the energy of your account, I would like to get to know you better,” wrote an unknown man on Instagram. “Handsome, moderately muscular, with tattoos, a beautiful smile,” Ilona recalls.

He introduced himself as Clinton. As they communicated, it turned out that he lived in America (California), worked as an oil rig engineer, was divorced, had a daughter, his own house, and a dog.

Soon, Clinton suggested moving to WhatsApp and deleted his Instagram account, explaining that “he found me, and no one else is needed.” He was constantly in touch with her, rejoicing when something good happened, and supporting her. “You are a professional, I know you can handle it,” he wrote when there were difficulties at work. In short, he said all those beautiful things that Americans say in movies. He even paid attention to small details, often asking if she had breakfast. Ilona felt cared for, and it was pleasant.

At the same time, all the emotions seemed genuine and natural to her. For example, once they almost had a quarrel when Clinton found out that Ilona went on a bus tour to Europe with an overnight trip and would spend the night on the road:

“He demanded: ‘No, you must rest in a hotel! Urgently tell them to stop the bus!’ I laughed, ‘Oh, these foreign softies,’ and he got angry that I agreed to uncomfortable conditions.”

At first, Ilona’s friends thought he was a scammer, but after a month, everyone, including Ilona’s psychologist, believed in the reality of this relationship.

Ilona was shy about video calls and “circles,” and five years ago, it was not popular. But Clinton insisted on a video call, although it kept breaking up on his side. They did not have video calls anymore, also because Ilona does not know English, and it was easier for her to text: she “ran” all messages through a translator. But periodically, he called and… sang to her.

Soon, there were declarations of love, and the conversations became “hotter.” However, Ilona did not send explicit photos or videos.

“Once he said, ‘Dance for me.’ I was indignant, and he immediately said, ‘Okay, I will come, we will dance together.’ He did not bring up this topic again.”

Instead, he started talking about a shared future. Ilona began to consider the idea of a vacation in the USA and even moving there. Clinton asked her to look for a house to buy in Minsk, where they would live during his visits: immediately after completing a work project, he planned to fly to her.

Clinton worked for himself: he participated in tenders, went to the site, assembled a team there, and completed the order. A month and a half after the start of their communication, he won a tender and flew to the United Arab Emirates.

A three-month contract was supposed to bring him $120,000. But only if he completed everything on time. However, a couple of weeks before the end of the contract, one of the engines broke down, and the project was at risk. Ilona recalls that the events unfolded in a very plausible way, and Clinton shared the details and experiences with her.

“One morning I was driving to work, and then a call from Clinton! I answered the phone, and he was crying! And he wrote: ‘I don’t know what to do. I locked myself in the cabin, the team is waiting for my decision, and I don’t know what to tell them.’ I supported him, and in the evening he wrote words of gratitude that I helped him come to his senses when he was in a panic, and now everything will be fine. And for some time they even fixed something, but then everything ‘collapsed’ again.”

He never asked for money but told her how he was looking for it. “The lawyer is trying, but the bank is not providing financing because…”, Clinton explained. The problem needed to be solved urgently to complete the project on time and receive the fee. And at the same time, there were talks of a happy future and love.

“There was a moment when I was ready to transfer him something. During the correspondence, you fall into some romantic state—it’s similar to when you watch an atmospheric movie. And the events develop quickly, his deadlines are burning, and you don’t have time to come to your senses.”

Ilona was saved by the fact that she did not have savings at that moment. And then she began to understand what was happening. Clinton continued his story, gradually reducing the amounts: from $40,000, the amount dropped to $500. To Ilona’s cautious remark that “you are the one who deceives women,” he was terribly offended.

Soon the communication faded away, but Ilona even wrote him warm words on the eve of…