Beware of this man – unsuspecting women are being duped into sending large amounts of money to him.
Police say this is a simple but effective scam which women are falling for.
He has used the names William Smith, Dr Eddie Adams, Mark Nelson and Michael Cambry.
Contact is made via Facebook, followed by a Skype call but police say this is only a recording. The women are then fed a story about this man being a General in the American army stuck in Syria.
The women then receive multiple pictures of the man in an army uniform, with Obama, leading troops which police say is poor photoshopping. They are then told he needs money as cash machines are broken.
The money gets sent via MoneyGram, and police say this is generally around £800 a time.
He promises to visit, but needs more cash for his plane ticket.
“Do you know this man? Have you been speaking to him via Skype?
“He’s actually whoever he needs to be to empty the bank accounts of unsuspecting females. We’re still finding ourselves dealing with females being sucked into an emotional minefield then cleared out of their money.
“Chances are there’s someone in this district currently chatting to this non existent person and being sucked in by the sob story,” said a police spokesperson.
“Sounds so simple, yet we have dealt with ladies in this area who have sent thousands and thousands of pounds. Lost, never to be returned. Even when presented with all the evidence by us, some victims still refuse to believe and continue to send money.
“Yes it’s easy to mock, but the scammers put hours and hours of work into brain washing and sucking people in, it could easily be your mum, sister or aunt,” added the spokesperson.
Police say the embarrassment felt by the victim means it’s often a son or daughter who contacts them.
“We appreciate scam warnings are tediously boring with many people reading them and thinking ‘idiots’ but tell your family about these when you see them. The more are alert to it the harder it is for the scammers,” added the police spokesperson.