| Twenty one year old Teri Moreno contacted | | | | maker. On June 12th I had a miscarriage. On June |
| Women’s Legal Resource a few weeks ago | | | | 13th, I spoke with “Greg” and told him I |
| needing assistance on how to deal with a con man | | | | lost the baby. On June 14th”Greg” called me |
| she had been dating. After talking with Teri and | | | | and told me that the surgery went well, but that he |
| listening to her story, I felt compelled to write this | | | | wasn’t feeling too good and was quick to tell me |
| story and to bring forth more awareness on online | | | | that everything would be okay and we’ll try to |
| dating and MySpace. I directed her to file a police | | | | have another child. |
| report and to notify the FBI as soon as possible. It | | | | Again, please keep in mind, I had no idea that |
| sounded like this guy has done this before and | | | | “Greg” really wasn’t sick. He was just |
| probably moving on to his next victim. | | | | strumming me along. |
| MySpace has become a breeding ground for criminals | | | | On June 19, 2009 I receive an email from his brother |
| who prey on young women. This type of criminal | | | | explaining that “Greg” died. You can’t |
| knows that young girls or women won’t | | | | imagine how I felt hearing that, my heart simply |
| question who they are or where they come from. | | | | broke. I loved this man and I believed his story. |
| Social networks, like MySpace makes it easier for an | | | | Boy, I was so wrong. I should have checked him |
| individual to let their guard down. Especially for | | | | out first. I should have questioned this man more |
| someone shy, introverted or who lack social skills. | | | | about his family and where he came from. |
| This class of criminal is aware of how naive and | | | | I used the number “Greg” used to call me |
| vulnerable young girls are and they prey hoping they | | | | and a man answered, I believed it to be his brother. |
| will get emotionally attached quickly, as Teri did. | | | | This man told me the funeral would be June 24th in |
| They will take advantage of you, take all your | | | | Floresville, TX. His brother advised me that the |
| money and lead you on a roller-coaster ride to hell | | | | funeral was going to be at the Franklin funeral home |
| and confusion. I hope young people across the | | | | at 10am so that they could bury him next to his |
| country read Teri’s story. | | | | mom and daughter. |
| Just know this, when you choose to date online, | | | | I explained to his brother that I wasn’t sure if I |
| your are placing your life at risk of rape, kidnapping | | | | could attend, I just had a miscarriage and I would call |
| and even murder. Sure, it may be easier to let your | | | | him back. Come to think about it, his brother never |
| inhibitions down while online, but it’s not the | | | | asked me, “are you okay?” “I am so |
| same as meeting someone in person for the first | | | | sorry” or anything like that. |
| time. There is still a risk, but the stakes are higher of | | | | I was unemployed, having quit my job when I had |
| getting into trouble when you date online using | | | | the miscarriage, I had no income. I borrowed four |
| MySpace. When you meet someone in person, your | | | | hundred dollars from my friends and family and I |
| instinct comes to focus and you size the person up. | | | | called his brother to let him know I would be able to |
| On MySpace, you can’t see if someone looks | | | | attend and to verify the address and time of the |
| you in the eye when talking with you or how their | | | | funeral. |
| body posture is. The predator is hidden in the endless | | | | This is when my life completely fell apart. They lead |
| black hole of the internet and reels his prey in. Be | | | | me on a wild goose chase. I went to the funeral |
| aware of who you are talking with online, especially | | | | home, no one was there. I called his brother and he |
| on MySpace and Facebook. It’s very easy for a | | | | said they moved it to another funeral home. Oh my |
| predator to become your friend. Don’t give out | | | | God! I couldn’t believe this was happening to |
| private information or where you live, until you have | | | | me. The next day, I drove to the funeral home and |
| that person checked out. If you sense there is | | | | left a little early just to be sure I wouldn’t miss |
| something wrong, listen to your instinct, you are | | | | anything. I get to the funeral home, it was empty, no |
| probably right. | | | | cars in the parking lot, nothing. |
| “I met my fiancee “Greg” on MySpace. | | | | Again, I called his brother and he said, “the |
| When I met him for the first time, I thought it was | | | | funeral already started, where are you? I replied, |
| love at first sight. He was an older man and he made | | | | standing outside the funeral home.” From that |
| me feel really special. We started dating and then | | | | point on, it was one story to the next. I was |
| he moved in with me. He didn’t work, claiming | | | | completely fooled and I am running around looking for |
| he had cancer and that prevented him from working. | | | | a funeral that didn’t exist. I drove home, I |
| I was supporting him financially. Please keep in mind, I | | | | couldn’t believe I let this guy do this to me. Now, |
| had no idea he was a con man. | | | | I had a feeling something was up, but it hurt too |
| Then I found out I was pregnant. When I told | | | | much to accept. |
| him, he was in shock. I thought nothing of it and | | | | I started contacting his friends on MySpace, |
| thought it was a normal reaction. From that point on, | | | | demanding to know what happened. Shortly after |
| our relationship was never the same. That should | | | | that, I get a call from his brother, he was threatening |
| have been the first warning sign. | | | | me and yelling at me to stop harassing his family. A |
| One day, he received news that his father was sick | | | | couple of “Gregs” friends emailed me recent |
| and he needed to go back to San Antonio. As it | | | | pictures of him and I couldn’t believe what I |
| turned out, his father died. During our relationship, I | | | | saw, he didn’t look dead to me. I was fooled |
| spent so much money on him because I genuinely | | | | and lead on a wild goose chase. Then I found out |
| believed his story that me he had cancer and | | | | that he had been dating a women since June 26, |
| couldn’t work. Now looking back, I feel pretty | | | | 2009. I was told he died on June 15th. |
| foolish for trusting this man. Now with his father | | | | “Greg” took my money, my self esteem and |
| passing away, he needed to go to the funeral. On | | | | my confidence. He took my innocence from me. I will |
| May 28, 2009, I used what little money I had and | | | | never trust another human being for a very long |
| sent him off to his fathers funeral. | | | | time. I was depressed and I really thought I did |
| On June 8th “Greg” contacted me and told | | | | something wrong. I felt bad about myself. I took |
| me that he had seen a doctor and that his heart was | | | | control and researched more about the subject and I |
| failing and would require surgery and a pace | | | | am fighting back. |