I Felt So Stupid, Story of Lieke
My name is Lieke. I am from Vlarrdingen, Holland but I’ve been living in Australia since I was 3. Sorry, I don’t speak very good English. Because I spend all my time within a community and in our community, everybody speaks Dutch.
Now I want to tell you my story.
Well, I met James Thomas Rooney online. We spoke many times each day and got really close to the stage he asked me to marry him. All that time, all he was after was my money. First, it was ‘I need a card for the internet.’ Then, ‘I have my salary put into my bank account in the US but need money to unlock it.’
I was so stupid because I trusted him and sent him money. Then he said “I need $600 more for my flight” but I didn’t stop sending more money.
There was always more money he needed until I said I don’t have any more money. He still tried but I was done sending. I realised that he was a scammer, not a lover.
Meet Lieke’s Scammer
Lieke’s scammer: James Thomas Rooney. The person in the photo is not James Thomas Rooney. He is in fact a Germany-based doctor — a real one — and his name is Thomas Peters. Unfortunately, his photos are widely used by scammers including my own. He was a part of my story as well as another lady whose story we will tell in another posts.
He’s still trying even now. He excepted my friend request, so he never changed. He said he didn’t think I would talk to him, but the truth is I did it to leave comments saying he’s a scammer to warn the others. He had a large number of women following him at the time. I told many times on his account he’s a scammer (she means she left comments in his account saying he’s a scammer to warn other women who were following him).
Yes, all they do is lie. He’s not talking now as asked him for my money back plus asked why said he (was) single and showed him a photo of Doc Tommy getting married. (The real doctor was getting married at the time and his wedding photos were everywhere as his wife is an influencer with a large following).
At the same time, I met another lady who was scammed by the same James Rooney and we started talking. One thing led to another, and we met others. And we found the real person whose photos were used in this scam.
He just go make another profile try again but never stop posting him as a scammer before will never happen again because as soon as they ask for money or cards it’s a no and they’re deleted.
I never want someone to be used like he used me and cost me thousands. I will be fine but it just hurts to see someone doing this to another person.
I so want these scammers to stop scamming anyone and I report them when I get a chance but you stop one and many other accounts pop up. What I can do is to share my story and maybe stop other ladies from falling prey to these scammers. People need to know what’s out there.
I am still talking to men online, but what happened to me before will never happen again because as soon as they ask for money or cards, it’s a no, and they’re deleted.
Note: Lieke’s English was in fact pretty bad. Her story needed to be edited heavily. However, I decided to keep certain parts of her story — bad English or not — because she has a certain way of expressing herself, and I didn’t want that to be lost in translation.