Romance Scam Survivor: The Whole Sordid Story

"How could you give money to someone you've never met?"

That's the first question most people ask.

For Jan Marshall, life was good. She had worked hard, set herself up well, and was looking for a companion to share her future with. Just as countless thousands around the world do, every day, she turned to online dating.

In just a few months, Jan believed she was 'in love'. She accepted a proposal of marriage, and then sent money - ALL her money - to a professional scammer.

How did it happen? How can an intelligent person be so thoroughly scammed?

Jan courageously shares the details of her devastating experience, in order to help others recognise such devious swindlers who prey on trusting souls, and maybe even to catch this thief.

You might think it can't happen to you, or someone you love, but can you be sure?

The work is a non-fiction account and memoir covering the communication between myself and the scammer, based on my records of our communications. By sharing the personal and intimate nature of the interactions it asks the reader to put themselves in my shoes, and in response the question "how could you be so stupid?" is answered. It details the process of dealing emotionally with the scam and the financial difficulties that I found myself in afterwards. It is a story of my process through being a victim to becoming a survivor. Areas that need change are also addressed. Some support resources and links are also provided, though this is not the main purpose.

"Jan Marshall is a vital voice in the discourse on romance fraud." Dr Cassandra Cross, Cyber Frauds, Scams and their Victims.

Author: Jan Marshall
Publisher: Sangam Enterprises Pty Ltd
Published: 02/13/2018
Pages: 322
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.95lbs
Size: 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.67d
ISBN: 9780648233602

About the Author
Marshall, Jan: - "Having spent 30 years in the IT industry Jan Marshall had reached a senior level in her professional field, earning a 6 figure income. After an interstate move in 2012, Jan looked to online dating to find a companion with whom to explore her new location. Unfortunately, this developed into an online romance scam where Jan lost more than $260,000 over several months. This lead to grief, shame, financial devastation, and a shattered self image. Jan credits having her Ragdoll cat Cookie with helping her get through the tough recovery process, lasting over two years. After this time Jan decided she had to go public about what had happened to her. A journey of discovery that Jan began simply to help herself understand and come to terms with that had happened to her, became Jan's transformation from victim, to survivor, to advocate. Jan discovered within herself a level of courage that surprised even her! Jan is one of the rare few survivors of a romance scam who has the courage to speak up, and she does - loudly, eloquently and frequently! Jan is an accomplished Public Speaker, Advocate and Author. Her book, "Romance Scam Survivor, The Whole Sordid Story," doesn't hold back. If you've ever considered internet dating, this book is a must read - it might save you your life savings! In her spare time Jan paints in watercolour, and enjoys time walking and swimming. She remains single, having not venture back to online dating. For more information, check her Blog site: www.romancescamsurvivor.org. Twitter: @JanCarMar Web: www.janmarshall.com.au LinkedIn: https: //www.linkedin.com/in/janmarshall53/"