Disabled San Diego woman targeted in pandemic dating scam, FBI reports thousands of victims in 2020
Jennifer Kastner, 07 May 2021
SAN DIEGO (KGTV) – More people are turning to the internet to find love during the pandemic, but it can come with a high price.
According to the FTC, $300 million was lost to romance scams during 2020. That’s a 50% increase from the year before.
ABC 10News recently met Margie McLellan at Lake Murray. She’s got a hearing impairment and other physical disabilities. She described her hurt and anger.
“It really hurts. I’m very, very angry and very upset,” she said. Last summer, McLellan joined an online dating platform.
The widow was looking for love during the pandemic when she matched with a profile. ABC 10News is not showing the face, since the real man’s identity was likely stolen.
“She was very excited in the beginning, and I was excited for her but then she became very quiet about the relationship by saying, ‘It’s very private and he doesn’t want me discussing it with anyone,'” said close friend Trish Testa who added that McLellan and the new man never met. They only texted.
Chabad of Poway’s former head rabbi faces a maximum five-year prison sentence for tax-evasion and other financial crimes he pled guilty to last July.