| Do you have an income, a home or have a financial | | | | money, that the "love" is gone and they are leaving |
| nest egg? Are you divorced or widowed and have | | | | and that it is your fault. |
| received any kind of financial settlement or insurance | | | | Meanwhile the accountant and the lawyer have |
| payout? Are you looking for a new start in life or a | | | | squirreled the money away. They give their predator |
| financial investment opportunity? Are you a caring, | | | | partner a well loaded credit and debit cards with |
| conscientious, moral, or spiritual person or have an | | | | instructions to withdraw only small amounts of cash so |
| emotional void? If you answer yes to most of these | | | | as not to attract attention (anywhere in the world) all |
| questions, you meet the criteria to be a target for a | | | | of which, of course, you will never see. |
| predator or con artist. Especially in these times, financial | | | | How they defend themselves: |
| predators are sharpening their tools to get at your | | | | The predator claims everything you handed to them |
| funds. | | | | was a gift, not a loan. They claim to the authorities that |
| What they are looking for: | | | | your issue is merely a lovers' quarrel and anything you |
| The main thing that attracts a recession predator is | | | | do is out of spite, jealousy and/or mental instability. |
| your money and whatever you have that can | | | | Depending on their greed factor, their risks and how |
| translate into money. Even the stolen hoards of these | | | | much they intend to cover their tracks, these people |
| predators have taken a hit in the markets, so they too | | | | may actually decide to sue you on bogus grounds, |
| will be looking to replenish what they have lost. | | | | possibly claiming that they own your house due to |
| Make no mistake, these people check you out well | | | | having lived together for over the local time limits for |
| before they meet you. This is an actual, well | | | | common law relationships. This means you will have to |
| established and corrupt business model with a | | | | come up with even more time and money (and stress) |
| beginning a middle and an end that can span | | | | to defend yourself. It's the finger pointing routine, a |
| anywhere from a few months to several years. | | | | tactic to distract the spotlight from them and to further |
| These people know how much to take from you | | | | demoralize you. They don't ever really want to take |
| without triggering the judicial and tax system resources | | | | the chance of losing in court or settle anything. Even if |
| toward investigation and prosecution and you will | | | | there is a court settlement, there is a very good |
| never get your money back because these predators | | | | chance that the monies have already been forwarded |
| will make sure you will never have the resources to go | | | | to other jurisdictions which in turn requires more |
| after them. | | | | litigation to recoup those funds. |
| How they target you: | | | | Usually the predator team will delay repeatedly until |
| If you are between the ages of 40 and 70 you could | | | | receivership kicks in rather than apply for bankruptcy |
| have the most to lose. If divorced, you may have | | | | so the accountant in the team can maintain the |
| received substantial assets, have felt wounded and | | | | "cleanliness" of his professional standing. As part of the |
| unappreciated by your ex and are open to the sweet | | | | stalling tactic, they will delay discovery for examinations |
| talk and affections generated by the predator. If | | | | repeatedly and alternatively use a lawyer or |
| widowed, you may be facing loneliness and the void of | | | | self-represent themselves in court thereby using the |
| not having your partner around in your day to day | | | | judicial system to drain you from anything else you |
| routine. | | | | have. |
| Because of the times during which you grew up, | | | | Keep your finances private and locked up: |
| especially if you are a woman, you may have the | | | | Although many times it isn't always easy to keep |
| self-image that you may be inexperienced or incapable | | | | things private, it isn't necessary or prudent to |
| of handling significant amounts of money. This is the | | | | broadcast your entire life on the web, or blogs or other |
| perfect setting for the con and his cronies to arrive. A | | | | social circles. These predators make it their career to |
| simple search of death notices, wills, divorce court | | | | look to getting your money. Having your assets placed |
| records, land titles and church events is how the | | | | in long term investments or insurance products that |
| predator trolls for the next victim. | | | | remove them from easy access is one way of |
| How they meet you: | | | | protecting your funds. Having monies paid out as |
| Once they know your inheritance or divorce | | | | annuities is another method. |
| settlement, your address and other basic information, | | | | Find a licensed financial and/or insurance consultant |
| they can position themselves to accidently meet you. | | | | who will really take the time to understand you and |
| The coincidental meeting can be at the home you are | | | | your situation and who has the intestinal fortitude and |
| building or a renovation, a volunteer event, the | | | | knowledge to help you protect yourself from getting |
| supermarket, the hospital, a funeral, dance clubs or at a | | | | drawn into anyone or anything that is ultimately not in |
| singles event at church. Predators are poised to be | | | | your best interest. |
| that most kind and helping hand of your dreams just | | | | Get a background check done: |
| happening to have all the time to dedicate to you. | | | | You don't have to spend a fortune on this. You can |
| How they take advantage of your good nature: | | | | hire someone or start to do some basic checking on |
| The predator presents him/herself as always being | | | | your own. Running a basic check at the court house to |
| helpful, going beyond the call of duty to be that | | | | see if this person and/or their associates have their |
| amazing caring and supportive knowledgeable person. | | | | names come up can be very enlightening. You can |
| They are determined to be your best friend, soul mate | | | | learn a lot about a person from how many times they |
| and are always reminding you that destiny brought you | | | | are in court, who they took to court and who took |
| two together. They tell their sad tale, how things didn't | | | | them to court. |
| work out for them and how they have been in the | | | | Look for things like bankruptcies, receiverships, loan |
| same boat. You build quality time together. The | | | | defaults, divorces, child support non-payments, |
| predator then starts to monopolize your relationships, | | | | restraining orders, assault, arson, stalking, fraud and |
| slowly dividing you from your trusted friends and | | | | other charges. It may reveal more about their stories |
| family, doing it so gradually and subtly that you never | | | | to you than you wanted but it gives you valuable |
| see it happening. | | | | insight into their tales and what they are capable of. If |
| How they drag you into their net: | | | | this individual and their associates keep asking you for |
| Suddenly the predator has an emergency. Whether it | | | | "business development", "marketing development" or |
| is automotive, a job loss, business difficulties, | | | | "legal funds" and there is a pending or unresolved court |
| encumbered assets, apartment eviction, flood or fire, | | | | case on the books, this is a definite red flag. |
| these are all things that they supposedly had no control | | | | Be sure to look into the business or corporate |
| of. They need help now and you are their best and | | | | registration. If these folks have changed their |
| only friend. They then use your moral conscience | | | | corporation status and names coincidentally at the |
| against you. Since they have helped you during your | | | | same times as the legal actions, you have another |
| times of need, it is your turn to help them. The situation | | | | cross hair for the investigative scope. People like this |
| is crafted to make it look like it was all your idea to | | | | cannot get "normal" financing for a reason so they |
| help. | | | | prey on your emotion and good nature. |
| Paperwork, small IOU's are drafted and the first debts | | | | Understanding the "ponzi scheme": |
| or loans are paid back. Then the loans get bigger and | | | | The ponzi scheme or principle is the means by which |
| the trust and relationship card gets thrown in. You and | | | | these predators operate and facilitate the growth of |
| the predator are now a couple deep in a romance. | | | | their business. The predator and his team take the |
| They convince you that paper is just meaningless and | | | | money from the first victim or victims and go through |
| that you have a sacred bond of love and trust. You | | | | the scenarios discussed earlier. As monies are taken |
| are now building a life together. | | | | they are put into the multiple streams of outlays of |
| The predator's friends and so-called business partners | | | | cash which then circle around back to the predator's |
| (who are all part of the game) can consist of a team | | | | financial home tributary. |
| of a lawyer an accountant and often some sort of | | | | As part of the planned demise of their company, |
| psychological advisor, who the predator says they | | | | corporate shares and assets are quickly dispersed |
| have known for many years. They include you in | | | | and reassigned using the lawyer and the accountant. |
| everything at first and all claiming to be looking out for | | | | Among other things, this is known as receivership |
| your best interest, except that they just can't seem to | | | | fraud. Once the predatory team feels that the dust |
| get the contracts written up that show your ever | | | | has settled, the cycle begins all over again. |
| growing investment. You now have no escape and | | | | The monies that are drawn out of this next victim are |
| they know it. | | | | trickled back to the previous victim who is so |
| How they control the relationship: | | | | demoralized that they are grateful to get anything they |
| You start to press for some written contracts just so | | | | can. This then adds perceived legitimacy to the new |
| that even you know where you stand. Suddenly the | | | | victim of the scheme because the previous victim is |
| money becomes an issue and the predator team now | | | | then produced to proclaim that they did indeed get |
| creates staged events that show that the relationship | | | | their money back. This further enables and supports |
| just "isn't working". They are knowingly dividing your | | | | (knowingly or unknowingly) the perpetrators of this |
| soul. You don't know which direction to go. You are | | | | scam. |
| trying to save your relationship as well as your | | | | Final thoughts: |
| finances. You still don't have your money back and | | | | The things a predator hates most are scrutiny, the |
| they are continuing to use all your resources for their | | | | truth and your friends and family. Predators usually |
| deals. It seems harder to get a rational conversation | | | | have a track record of some kind. Do those |
| with the business partners who start to treat you like a | | | | background checks. Use the same things to evaluate |
| mental patient, while they pretend to also have | | | | them that they used to find you. Seek out and talk to |
| problems in dealing with the predator because of | | | | the people the predator keeps ranting about. Predators |
| problems in your relationship. They continue play the | | | | usually say the same things about you once they find |
| good guy routine of "don't worry you will get your | | | | the next victim and will run a very aggressive and ugly |
| money back" while you still have nothing on paper. | | | | smear campaign against you. To counter this onslaught |
| Then the predator tells you it's over, that they can't | | | | you need the support of your friends and family more |
| stand your bad attitude and that you don't have the | | | | than ever. Together you can face down the predator |
| same religious or spiritual connection. The predator | | | | and warn others of these individuals. |
| complains about your constant harassment about | | | | |