PHOENIX (AZFamily) — It’s a wild story involving love, betrayal and an accused con man.
“I met him on a dating site, and his name was Rob Scotto,” said a Valley woman who asked not to have her identity revealed.
He was supposed to be the one.
“It was just a very quick relationship, and he made me feel like we were going to be together forever. I really fell hard for him,” she said. “I trusted who he said he was.”
She said she discovered who he was a couple of months into dating. Rob Scotto’s real name is Robert Giuliano.
His mug shot is on the New York Department of Correction’s Most Wanted Fugitive list for Att. Forgery, Grand Larceny and Identity Theft. The website states he is a “multi-state” offender and is known to target women in romance scams.
“I see so many red flags now that I obviously ignored,” said the victim.
The woman said she was swindled out of $30,000 by Giuliano. She paid for various trips after he claimed he lost his credit card and would pay her back.
“From July until now, he’s continued to promise to pay me back, and he has continuously stayed in touch with me on a daily basis, telling me how much he loves me,” she said.
She said the last time Giuliano contacted her was last Thursday. He promised to repay her, but she never heard from him again.
It’s the same day Scottsdale Police caught him.
“Today, is the first time I felt a little bit of power back in my life,” she said.
Scottsdale Police told Arizona’s Family that they got a tip from New York investigators on Dec. 6 about Giuliano’s felony warrant and that he was living in town.
Police said they started investigating and arrested him in a hotel lobby by detectives on Dec. 12 around 1:15 p.m. He was transferred to MCSO County Jail for a felony warrant.
MCSO confirmed with Arizona’s Family that Giuliano is still in custody.
The New York Department of Corrections said it’s still working on Giuliano’s extradition.
“It’s not about getting even. It’s about holding him accountable,” said the victim.
She said she feels empowered now that Giuliano is behind bars, but she wants to warn the community that others like Giuliano are out there.
“Don’t ignore the red flags. Trust your instincts and trusts other people’s,” she said.
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