Admit it- you’ve probably imagined once or twice what it would be like to date your favorite actor or musician. But for someone who is mentally incapacitated or emotionally vulnerable, this fantasy can become a real-life nightmare. Online dating and catfishing are hardly new phenomena, but AI has given scammers more tools to lure in unsuspecting victims. One recent case of a French woman falling in love with an online celebrity impersonator made headlines across the globe. She was contacted on Instagram by a woman purporting to be Oscar-winning actor Brad Pitt’s mother. She introduced them, and “Brad Pitt” eventually told the woman he needed $1 million for a kidney treatment to save his life. He claimed that he could not access these funds due to his divorce from Angelina Jolie. As the woman had just received a settlement from her own divorce, she transferred him $850,000. The woman did not realize she had been scammed until she saw photos of Brad Pitt, 61, with his 30-year-old girlfriend Ines de Ramon at the Venice Film Festival.
The real Brad Pitt probably drops $850,000 on purchases like the rest of us “splurge” at the grocery store. Most people are in a financial position where losing $850,000 is absolutely crushing, and could lead to lifelong poverty. If you have a loved one who falls victim to a romance scam and gives away their life savings, they are probably going to need extensive financial support and supervision to ensure it doesn’t occur again. If your loved one accrued massive debts to a romance scam, bankruptcy may be an option to clear these debts and give them a shot at a clean slate. Our team is understanding of our clients’ situations, and we focus on creating a positive outlook going forward rather than guilt and shame over the circumstances that led to debt in the first place. We can answer any questions you may have about the bankruptcy process over the phone with a free case evaluation. To schedule your free time to speak with an experienced Arizona bankruptcy lawyer today, call 480-405-1010.
Lies That Celebrity Romance Scammers Tell
While romance scammers have to get creative to fabricate a story of why a celebrity is looking for love online in random locations and why they would need financial help despite being rich and famous, they actually have a fairly small repertoire of lies they tweak based on the situation. Some of the lies celebrity romance scammers use on their victims include:
The celebrity or their loved one is deathly ill or seriously injured
The celebrity or their loved one is incarcerated
The celebrity is looking for marriage with a down-to-earth non-celebrity
The celebrity needs a small loan in order to access a much larger sum of money
The celebrity needs help receiving a delivery
The celebrity is away in a remote location shooting a film
The scammer is in the military or on an oil rig
The scammer does not have internet capability or a functional camera to video chat
Defending From Creditors With The Automatic Stay In Bankruptcy
When a scam leads to debt, the victim could experience collection efforts like lawsuits, repossessions, garnishments, etc. Once these legal processes are initiated, it can be difficult to stop them without paying the debt in full or filing for bankruptcy. The automatic stay begins protecting the debtor once they have filed their bankruptcy petition in court. It should last until the debtor’s case is completed, whether that be through discharge or dismissal. There can be an exception if the creditor convinces the court to grant a motion for relief from the automatic stay. One of the most common errors that can lead to a temporary lapse in protection from the automatic stay is filing the wrong chapter of bankruptcy based on the debtor’s income level. Here, it is usually possible to convert the chapter or re-file the case shortly after dismissal. But the debtor should move quickly, or the creditor could repossess an asset or take funds before the automatic stay goes back into place.
A self-represented bankruptcy debtor needs to stay on top of their communications, because they won’t have counsel to notify them of any issues and address them immediately. A dismissal can happen at any time throughout the case if there are mistakes in the petition or other issues arise. A skilled bankruptcy attorney can help you craft a petition that is accurate and will hold up if anyone starts asking questions about your case. To schedule your free consultation with one of our dedicated Arizona bankruptcy lawyers, call 480-405-1010.
Considerations For Seniors In Bankruptcy
The fact of the matter is that many romance scam victims are senior citizens. Inexperience with the internet and technology, combined with a worldview that didn’t predict online scammers using artificial intelligence to imitate celebrities, can make it easier for scammers to work their way into their targets’ lives. Seniors may have easier access to large sums of cash due to retirement savings, divorce settlements, etc. And once that money is gone, it’s gone- the scam victim might not have the physical capacity to re-enter the labor market to earn back those funds. Credit card companies can issue chargebacks for certain purchases, but this same protection does not exist for wired funds.
If a celebrity romance scam creates debt, debt collectors are limited in what they can access from a retired senior citizen. Social security income, or SSI, is exempt from creditors, and from the bankruptcy process. This sometimes means that all the senior really has to do is stop participating in romance scams. However, bankruptcy could still be beneficial if the senior has a valuable non-exempt asset that could be lost to a creditor. For more assistance in applying these assets to your unique situation, call 480-405-1010 for your free consultation with one of our experienced Arizona bankruptcy professionals.
Knowledgeable & Understanding Bankruptcy Lawyers In Phoenix & Tucson
The first thing you should do after learning of a romance scam is to report it to the FTC and the Internet Crime Complaint Center. But as you are probably already anticipating, it is extremely rare to recover funds lost to online celebrity romance scams. If your loved one amassed debt due to scamming, bankruptcy can stop creditors in their tracks and protect assets that would be devastating to lose. However, under the right circumstances, filing for bankruptcy might not be necessary for a senior citizen. You deserve an honest evaluation of the situation at hand to make an informed decision for yourself. The last thing you need after experiencing a celebrity romance scam is to deal with a bankruptcy lawyer or debt relief professional who will aggressively pursue what little money is left to be had. Our bankruptcy consultations come with no cost or obligation, and can be held over the phone so you won’t feel pressured to sign up before you’re ready. To learn more about bankruptcy after a romance scam and how it can apply to your personal situation, call 480-405-1010 for your free consultation with My AZ Lawyers, our trusted Arizona bankruptcy lawyers.
