Description

Someone called "Michael Jones" messaged me on Grindr asking if I wanted a benefactor to help me as an artist, and pay off bills in the return for companionship. The first thing he did was pay off my credit card bill. He gave me two bank account numbers. The first didn't work. The second did (Fifth Third Bank). I am still unclear if this is his real bank account or not. Nearly $5,000. Then the next day he told me he could help me make cypto currency and learn how to invest. He sent me a screenshot of a portfolio with upwards of $1.7 million. He had me add $1000 to Cashapp, buy Bitcoin, and then send it to some extremely long crypto address (a long series of numbers and letters), he then opened an account and sent me screenshots before inviting me by email to see the money grow on an app. (He wanted to make me believe I had some control. "We'll get you $35,000 and then you can take it out.) The third day, he asked me to send him more money. This time $2100. I said no. He got that number because when he paid off my credit card, he saw in the screenshot (I sent him of payment) that I had $2100 in cash advance available. After that he said I would be able to take $1500 allowance PER WEEK. I was traveling so I told him I could not get the money out of the ATM (partly true). So he asked me to send more via Cashapp, whatever I had in my bank account. As an artist with barely $4,000 to my name, I said no. Through a lot of pressure and manipulation and guilting, he got me to send him $500 more. On the 4th day, I said NO to all requests. I had spoken to friends and they were upset with me and it was starting to become clear what was happening, even though I had blinders on (all because he paid off the credit card). Also on day 3, the payment to the credit card FULLY posted (or at least I thought it did from Wells Fargo.) He used that fact to convince me I was being annoying and inconsiderate for doubting him. He then freaked out. Began telling me I "didn't want to get rich". The guy was having a full meltdown. Within minutes he started threatening saying he was going to murder me, and my whole family. He sent me the names of my family members and then my home address. He asked me to CashApp/Venmo/Chime/Zelle him immediately. And it would be over. He said I should send him the amount he paid my credit card bill. ($4700). I said "No, I don't have the money" and that also I only owed him $3200 because previously I had sent him $1500 via Bitcoin on Cashapp. Suddenly I started getting calls/messages from 12 (yes 12!) different phone numbers with videos of people being murdered (shot in the head, blood everywhere), and pictures of people with guns (selfies) saying "You messed with Michael, we're coming to get you." All of them had my address. I was scared. But also...the grammar was shit. Every text was the same bad grammar and typing style as Michael's original communication. To me, I was sure it was fake and that this was a sad (and scary) man sitting in a basement in middle America. I ignored all phone calls and texts. And eventually blocked every single one. The NEXT morning, on Day 5, Michael Whatsapped me from one of the numbers I had blocked on iMessage 516 743 8205. That phone number was Michael saying "Sorry" "I love you" all the same stuff he said when he started messaging me. He said that he had anger issues, and send screenshots of the portfolio he "set up for me" and asked for my forgiveness. When I checked my iMessages, I saw that same number was one of the numbers harassing me saying they were a "Friend of Michael". A person with a gun on their way to kill me. That as really telling. I knew this person was lying. I responded on Whatsapp and told him that his threats and actions had launched a lot of crisis and damage control for my family (not true) and that it would take time to "heal". He wrote "I'm sorry baby, I told the mafia not to get you anymore." I said I needed to rest and said I would message him later. He asked me to unblock him on iMessage. I said no. The next morning (day 6), I saw more Whatsapp messages, back to the violence! He was going to kill me and my whole family. He demanded $3200. I changed my phone number. Which really made him upset. And on Day 7, the morning of Day 7, I got an email from Wells Fargo saying the payment from Michael's account was unauthorized and it would be reversed. The other report I saw online (also a romance scam) named Michael and a familiar email address. Here are the phone numbers and email addresses Michael used to contact me (or his "associates" used) [email protected] [email protected] (810) 332-9994 516-743-8205 810-332-9994 573-429-2801 573-714-0985 646-269-7172 541-653-3164 330-889-8255 573-429-0738 615-910-2079 Michael or whoever is behind this is very skilled at manipulation. I'm educated and out of hope and a little bit of desperation, I really thought this was going to be a legit type of relationship. He didn't ask for any graphic material of me. But looking back, it's all very calculating. He used the Credit card payment to get me to trust him, and then the bullying began. There's definitely some mental illness. I am confused why he apologized on Day 5. He did get his phone numbers (and stories) mixed up and that makes me think he's targeting multiple guys at a time. I've attached his Grindr photo (he sent privately) and his photo on Whatsapp. His Grindr profile was blank and said age 53.