Police probing elaborate online dating site scheme

State Police are warning residents of an elaborate Internet scam involving online dating sites in which victims are befriended then asked to unknowingly assist in what amounts to money laundering of fraudulently obtained funds.

Maine State Trooper Adam Schmidt said the intricate, multi-layered and sometimes international sting develops slowly, with a seemingly innocent reachout on one of the lesser-known dating websites.

A federal law enforcement agency is helping Maine State Police try to unravel one of the most recent cases, which often develop something like this:

After an initial contact is made with the victim, an online relationship is pursued as the mark is set up for the sting.

The perpetrator might ask the potential victim to send them a small amount of money, because they are in a jam. Then, they would pay it back quickly thus strengthening the trust factor.

“There might be gifts involved, too,” Schmidt said on Monday.

Then the scheme will abruptly deepen. The victim will be asked to help with a commercial venture. The scammer will tell them they’re involved in a business deal, often in a foreign country, and they can’t have their thumbprint on the currency, so they’ll send the victim a bunch of prepaid debit cards full of cash and ask them to deposit them in a bank.

Then, a short time later, they’ll ask the victim to put the money in a bank check and send it to a third party, or send it to a particular bank account, Schmidt said.

“The problem is these funds are illegally obtained funds, possibly from identity thefts,” Schmidt said.

In a recent incident in Lebanon, a resident hesitated in sending out the funds she had been sent earlier and shortly thereafter a man traveled from the New York area to the Lebanon resident's home to ask for the money.

Concerned for their safety, the resident called police and Schmidt responded.

“Luckily, I was nearby,” he said.

 Police later issued a “no trespass” order to the man who had showed up at the door.

“This is a very complex law enforcement issue,” Schmidt said. “It crosses state lines, and possibly international lines.”

Schmidt said the money amounts vary, but in the most recent case, the Lebanon resident had $15,000 in funds that were in question.  

Schmidt said the investigation into the matter is very fluid and very complicated and added he could not even reveal the sex or age of the Lebanon victim involved.

Schmidt said the Secret Service is currently assisting State Police in the probe. He urges everyone to be wary of online scams such as this one as well as a host of others that are out there.

“People have to remember the person you’re talking to may not be who they say they are,” he said.