I’ve had friends over the years fall prey to this. Friends or lovers, scamming them for money. Sometimes from within the community, that charming Dom in need you’ve gotten close to online, that new friend you made at a munch with a business idea.

People get so taken in, when it’s someone they care about, that even after they’ve lost much in the way of money, or materials, or hard work and personal time, that they still don’t want to think the person who scammed them ‘planned it’.

It is important to trust one’s friends, but at the same time, please be aware. This can, and does happen all too often. In fact, the number of friends and aquaintances I’ve heard these stories from is all to frequent. Especially because I know most people do not tell others that they’ve been scammed. Usually the situation, and even the scammer, will encourage the person to feel so shamed about it, that people will blame themselves, not the scammer, and will be embarassed to share what happened to them. Or will feel if they speak out they will be gossiping and causing drama. More »