Dear Amy: I met a young woman online about eight months ago and have messaged her regularly. We also have video calls because she lives in the Philippines.
Long story short — she has a lot of issues with employment due to COVID-19, she has no family, her area was devastated by a typhoon, she has few friends, and health issues.
She received a job offer in Canada and the company was going to pay for her airfare and put her up in company housing. She was supposed to start next month.
I helped her to buy clothing and prepare for the move, but now she has been diagnosed with medical problems and has to take a six-month treatment regimen for uterine cysts.
I have helped her through many financial issues.
I feel more of a father figure than a boyfriend and just feel a lot of pain for her. I am wondering how long I should help her financially.
Should I cut the cord and tell her I cannot do this anymore?
Although I could afford to help her, it is financially and emotionally draining.
To top it off I am 69 years old and she is 26.
— Concerned
Dear Concerned: I am genuinely sorry to be the bearer of this news, but every detail you have supplied about this person points to the likelihood that you are the victim of a “romance scam.”
The missed opportunity for employment, the devastating typhoon, the near-miss move to North America — all of these dramatic episodes are designed to bait the hook and then to keep you on the hook, supplying more funds with each new drama that…
