This sounds like a variation of the Nigerian "Twist" scam.
When dealing with any call or contact that you suspect is a scam, try to put them on the defence. A true gentlemen will never lose his "cool," and would certainly never curse a lady out. When he starts cursing at you, this is a sure sign something is desperately wrong! BIG RED FLAG! Why? Because he knows you can figure it out, and he would lose all the times he's invested in ripping you off, and have to start all over and find a new victim.
They reason they go off like that is to try to use "intimidation tactics" on you. Think of it like those police shows, where they bust in the doors and start screaming, "freeze! Don't move! Face down!" What happens? You get scared, and you do what they want. Especially is you are not accustomed to being talked to this way, which most people aren't.
Another thing is never, ever, ever trust anyone who wants you to send money via Green Dot Card, Western Union, Money Gram, etc. Because these are virtually untraceable. You can trace them, but it just about takes an act of God to get the info. Company's like these make it easy to be ripped off, but hard to stop it! You would have to have police reports and a court ordered subpoena in most cases. (The law is NOT helpful either!) That' s just to get the records. You'll probably never recover the money, because the chances are, the phone call is a ghost phone in another country.
Next, listen to his/her voice? Is he saying he's an American Indian? Does he sound black? Than he probably is! Is she telling you she's from the US and is working in Africa? No, she lives in Africa. The only kind of people that would willingly work in Africa are missionary's and such! Most American people that work in Africa are wealthy business people, and they sure don't need your paltry money, to get them out of what ever they claim is wrong.
Other scams: Does he/she claim to be a millionaire (or rich) but yet some how needs your measly $500 for air fare, legal fees, Medicine, etc? Does he/she claim they need the money for groceries? Didn't he just tell you he's Rich?! Think about every little thing he/she tells you. Write it down if you have to. You will see inconsistencies jump out at you!
The best thing you can do (from someone who has been busting scams all of his life! (Think of me something like Harry Houdini, he busted fake mediums, I bust scams!)
Finally, trust your instincts. They are hardly ever wrong!!! Your heart will lie to you every time, but your brain will always follow the logical truth!!!
-- Scam Buster (
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