FBI Warns Of Online Romance Scams

WEST LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Bekki Prather and her brother and sister knew something was up when their 80-year-old mom was preoccupied with online dating.

"We were watching it. We didn't have anywhere near the idea of the extent that she was about to get sucked in," the victim's son said.

But within months, it was too late. As in most cases, their mom's online boyfriend moved quickly, using a stolen identity, professing his love, proposing then getting their mom to wire $23,000 to Malaysia.

The victim's children said she still does not think she was duped. "The things that they were saying to her she's waited he whole life to hear. And she finally heard them, and she's not going let go of that," the victim's daughter Bekki Prather said.

In Southern California alone, $5 million is lost every month to cyber crimes, including so-called romance scams, according to the FBI.

Victims like Tim McMurray of Gardena are helping spread the word about scammers breaking hearts and banks.

"I was corresponding with a lot of different girls. I was trying to find a lady. I promised my mom I'd find a good woman," he said.

For McMurray, "Lois" turned out to be a criminal using him as a money mule to transfer cash stolen from a Beverly Hills company to a private account. "Lois" said she owned a business and was paying a vendor.

He saw the red flags and worked with FBI agents after receiving $53,000 that was not his.

McMurray admitted he fell for a pretty face. "Beautiful women, you know. I'm a man. I appreciate nice-looking women."

Experts say online daters should be wary of anyone who asks for money, who gets too close too quickly or who wants to immediately communicate outside of the dating website.