Jane admits that she has sent her internet boyfriend, “Jonathan,” nearly $1 million over the past 18 months, despite having never met him face-to-face. She says that after four different banks refused to do business with her after flagging the large transactions she was attempting to make as suspicious, she turned to wire transfers and cryptocurrency machines as a way to continue sending him money.
“I put in American dollars, and Jonathan gets it in cryptocurrency at the other end,” she says. “It’s fast, easy, and nobody asks any questions.”
Watch the video above to hear more about Jane’s experience. Plus, Nare Gevorgyan, Co-Founder of CoinXPRS, a blockchain payment routing system, describes how cryptocurrency transfers work.
And later, cybersecurity expert and former Chief of Office of Internet Enforcement at the US Securities and Exchange Commission John Stark explains why the combination of online dating and cryptocurrency is ideal for scammers.
The conclusion of this two-part episode of Dr. Phil, “Part Two: Where is ‘Jonathan?’,” airs Friday. Check your local listing to find out where to watch.
To report an internet romance scam or any cybercrime, contact your local FBI Field Office or file a complaint through the Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.IC3.gov. For more information on romance scams and tips on how to avoid them, visit https://www.fbi.gov/scams-and-safety/common-scams-and-crimes/romance-scams.
WATCH: ‘It’s Confidential,’ Says Woman Whose Internet ‘Boyfriend’ Refuses To Give Her His Exact Location
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