Hi this is my first time on this site and to be honest I'm trying to find someone if even that person is real or a photo. I meant someone on a dating site almost years ago.. and him and his daughter were going to Nigeria for work he is a construction worker.. I never met this person and he said he was from North Carolina... since he's been there we talked and text... in August 4, 2015 his co-worker had contacted me saying he was in an accident and hit a pedestrian and said that the person died.. and wanted me to send money to bail him out the last time that I spoke to him was on February 9, 2016 within couple day I called his co-worker to find out if he was OK and they told me he died in jail and they are blaming me because I didn't help.. I know I will never find out the only thing I have is a picture and a name... what should I do... and to be honest I did help my biggest mistake and I'm paying for it...

OH PLEASE. Scam plain and simple. And really if it were true, you never met the person anyway. Move on, there's nothing to see here. And if anyone in the future asks you for money, say NOOOOOOO!

You have a big heart and the unfortunate thing is that people with big hearts get taken advantage of. A lot. Kudos to you for not sending money. Move on. There are more honest people out there, just be sure to meet them in person.

Think about this logically for a moment. How is it your fault he died in jail? What did you do to directly cause his death? This is how those scammers work. They prey on kindhearted people like you.

Truthfully, he is most likely still alive and he and his fellow scammer, ummm co-worker, are hoping you feel so bad that you will send them your entire bank account. Dollar by dollar.

Its time to move on and take this as a lesson learned. When they start asking for money they are interested in your bank account not you.

'and to be honest I did help'

So you DID send money? Why do you say you are paying for it, present tense?
You now know that it's a common scam. Please tell us what you paid, and why you mean by still paying?

You got played for a fool... and they are continuing to do so. This is what people like them do.

Simply ignore them and any request for ANYTHING they might make. Any money you have sent before you will never get back.

You will never get anything in return for anything additional you send. Its almost certain EVERYTHING you know about them has been a lie.

Sounds like you were "Scammed Big Time". You have a picture and a name, it would be nice if you could put the picture and name on Facebook, Twitter etc. and show this character for what they are, if it were me I would do that.

The pictures are stolen and the names made up. Many real people have been damaged by stolen pics. And it won't do any good. There are thousands, all over the world, and they change names and stolen pics for each new victim.

This is a play on the dating scam. No, he did not die in jail, he was never real, someone built up an online relationship with you, with the entire intent to cheat you out of money.

Now they are perhaps going to try and get money from guilt, (I will assume that soon, that person will ask for money for the daughter)

They often do the dating angle and ask for money for visa or travel allowance first, then they are in accident, or in jail and need more money.

This is so common, and predictable.

IF they were from America, the US Embassy there would have provided legal assistance to the person. Also while their jails are bad, most people do not die there, esp a foreigner.

There would be no truth to this story.

I hope you did not send any money, at any time to this person,

But there is no need for any guilt, only perhaps sadness you fell for a famous and common scam.

I agree. What a scam to play on your feelings. Lose the guilt because the co workers(?) didn't help either, even if there was a shred of truth behind this. Regardless it NEVER ends until you end it.

Thank you for your answer no I haven't sent any more money because I know now the truth that its all a scam. Because I've been in contacted with the embassy in Nigeria and finally they sent me an email they did a search and saying there is no one in jail by that name and if an American citizen had died in jail they would be notified immediately.. and also they told me not to answer them or send any money... which I haven't.. I just needed someone to talk to and to know what I going through.. once again thank you so much for listening.

Yes thank you right now I'm going through psychological and emotional traumatize and its like my dream and life died also.. but I've been going to my pastor for help and I truly need to clear this in my mind because it really did damage to me... knowing that this person as he stated he loved me (yeah right) I realize now that I been hurt and scammed and no I haven't and will not send any more money I actually in a while I didn't... thank you so much for listening...

I tell EVERYONE this same thing.

There are people near you to have relationships with... Never get involved with anyone you can't sit across the table from at least every week.

It won't guarantee you that you won't have a bad relationship... but it will at least guarantee you they are real and exist as they claim.

I also hold by the adage... never loan money to friends... I never loan anything to people Who are strangers... and I'm not really a fan of lending family money... but that's the one case where blood is thicker than water and you make exceptions to rules. Assuming the individual doesn't have "issues" of some sort.

Thank you for your reply, I'm right now psychological and emotional traumatized and to be honest my life is not my life anymore because we've been via texting and phone conversation for almost 2 years.. I know that I've been scammed and hurt but my life is not the same anymore... I'm so hurt by all of this I can't sleep nor eat because of what his co-worker told me that he died in jail and blaming me for his death because I couldn't help... and to be honest the picture that I have I don't know if its him.. I know everyone is telling me to forget but honestly I need to know if his picture is real or was I taking to a ghost... I've been a widow for 6 years and I thought I would find happiness again... now I don't know anymore... I'm just very sad... and of course I had to pick someone that was going to Nigeria for work...

When you really need something so bad, it will come to you when it is supposed to come and also when you make effort for it. These things happen every now and then on internet and the worse part is it happens to those who are so kind. You should celebrate who you are and how you are. Living with confidence of being yourself will allow to understand (and attract) the things you want. This what I believe. Take care of yourself! :)