Not long ago, a
man named Tim routinely withdrew large sums of cash from his bank to pay for his
fiancée's supposed cancer treatments.
Now, his
money is gone -- a total of more than $300,000 -- and so is the lady who
promised to marry him, the Citrus Heights man said.
"Everything
she said is a lie," Tim wailed, accusing the woman of breaking his heart and his
bank account.
Tim, a
computer engineer who asked that his last name be withheld, said he was hustled by
the woman for 3 1/2 years, until this spring.
Citrus
Heights police said they are investigating the case as a possible sweetheart
swindle -- a scam in which con artists pretend to fall in love with lonely people
to gain their trust and money.
While most
"sweetheart" victims are elderly gentlemen, Tim's case is unusual. He's only 34
and the woman he wants arrested is thought to be slightly older.
"Not only is
he heartbroken because of feeling deceived ... but his finances are also ruined,"
said Brian Elmore, the Citrus Heights detective on the case.
Tim's
trusting nature cost him dearly, Elmore suggested.
Sweetheart
scams "are far more common" than people think, said Detective Jan Cater, a fraud
expert with the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department.
Only one in
10 victims of such scams reports the crime, Cater said. The rest are so
humiliated, they remain silent.
"It's
difficult to tell people you've been a victim because it's such a personal
attack," she said.
And some
victims are reluctant to prosecute. That seemed to be the case with Bob Lund,
73, of West Sacramento, who was bilked out of $136,000 after meeting a
female scam artist last year.
As Scam
Alert previously reported, Lund was approached in a fast-food restaurant in late
August by Kisie Peaches Tina John, 25, who flirted with him.
The retired
state worker fell in love with her and sought to please her, Yolo County
authorities said.
At John's
request, Lund withdrew $100,000 in cash from his bank and gave it to Steve John, a
self-described auto broker, and to a second man.
Lund also
bought a new, $36,000 pickup on credit for Kisie John and other members of her
circle.
He then
tried to buy a $65,000 Corvette for her, but at the last moment didn't. A salesman
became suspicious and notified the California Highway Patrol.
Kisie John
was arrested on Sept. 13, while visiting Lund.
Unable to
post $100,000 bail, she stayed in the Yolo County jail until Oct. 8, when she
pleaded no contest to abetting the swindle.
Lund
requested mercy for Kisie John, describing her as a pawn. She was released without
bail and then failed to appear for her November sentencing.
(This demonstrates why
prosecuting members of the various gypsy clans is so difficult. Those unfamiliar
with the legendary gypsy tactics often extend leniency only to discover that they
themselves were just duped. Although this is a daily occurrence within the
criminal justice system, it appears to be a fact destined to be ignored.
Let there
be no doubt here, Kisie John was anything but a pawn in this theft. She knew
exactly what she was doing and shared equally in the well-rehearsed deception.)
A no-bail
warrant was issued for her arrest. Warrants also have been issued for Steve John
and another alleged accomplice. All three remain at large.
Lund said he
won't be in Kisie's corner any more.
"She's no
good," he said Monday, adding he wants her prosecuted to the fullest extent.
First she
must be caught.
A fast-food
restaurant also was the setting for the initial encounter between Tim and the
woman he said targeted him.
He met her
Oct. 3, 1999, at a KFC restaurant in Citrus Heights, he said.
She and Tim
exchanged phone numbers.
Soon, they
began dating.
"I felt like
God had put this woman in my path," said Tim, a devout Christian.
The woman
claimed that she had lost her house to a fire, forcing her to live with her
brother until she received an insurance settlement, he said.
In November
1999, she persuaded Tim to buy her a used 1997 Ford Explorer for $15,000, he said.
The
following month, the woman had horrible news: A doctor had found a cancerous cyst
that had to be removed.
"She said
she had no medical insurance and needed $35,000 to pay for the surgery," Tim said.
"She said she wanted to pay cash so she could get a discount."
She wouldn't
reveal the name of her doctor or hospital, Tim said.
Tim sold
$35,000 worth of his company's stocks, had the proceeds wired to his bank and then
withdrew that amount.
The woman
later said the operation failed. As a result, Tim said, he later withdrew $5,000
at a time to pay for more than a dozen radiation treatments that cost $5,000 each.
Before he
wised up, he also bought her everything from a $7,500 engagement ring (which she
later "lost") to another car.
Now, Tim is
so broke, he no longer visits his bank. He withdraws $20 to $60 at a time from his
ATM to pay for groceries.
The victim in this
offense has created a web site covering the emotional stress this scam
has caused him to suffer. In addition his has listed lots of
information that should help others avoid falling prey to these types of
scams.
I have also
learned that various gypsy clans have taken to pulling off this type of scam in
nursing homes. They search such institutions for elderly persons who do not
have any close family ties, and then proceed to become their best, and only
friends. Shortly after, these good friends develop rare diseases, which require
lots of money to treat, and a host of other problems -- all in need of immediate
cash.
Scam Alert: Man says 'Gypsy
sweetheart swindler' stole his heart -- and his cash
