The previous stories chronicle how I was scammed of my private pension via the original and actual views of what happened. What I didn’t delve into much was the previous case with a “Student” to support, who I ghosted when I could no longer afford it. I noticed however that there was a recurring pattern I want to document, in order to alert potential victims…
The key is that “Sponsor1” was manipulated by a scam artist whose behaviour, if believable, was very wooden in hindsight, with minimal connection (purportedly due to poor wifi, not uncommon in the US) and very long silence stretches (they were busy scamming others no doubt). Sponsor2 on the other hand behaves very real c/w arguments and impromptu acts despite resemblances. Note it’s all my fault that I should have picked up on this, however clever they were to pull the wool over me.
Here is a table showing the processes were absolutely identical. Having received scam refund, however partial, means I can sit it out and let the 2nd sponsorship play out, viz. empty boxes at bottom right… Stay tuned!
Fall update
My landlord forced my hand with an eviction notice to all flat-mates — upgrading a house is a loophole allowing eviction notices to re-rent at far higher rate than the allowable 10% annual increase — I had a really good deal there was no way I’d find again, plus I was running out of money. So it made sense to repatriate to Mum’s in SW FR: live rent-free until my old house is sold, and I can buy from my half of the house sale a studio in Pau or in Cambridge if a job materialises there (a possibility thru my non-profit for remote work on NHS social prescribing, more here).
So the litmus test for Sponsor 2 is three-fold: will I get a video call to actually see her — that is what gave the game away on Sponsor 1 — will I get my business loan repayed, and will my Green Card materialise?
The litmus test failed as at end Nov. — see updated spreadsheet above — and by then I had met someone else… So I dropped all three “sponsors”: plans to return stateside & return any money owing; I started a new relationship gaining from my hard lessons learned, someone who’d join me in England… and is actually real!
“Life is what happens, while you’re busy making other plans” (John Lennon)
