Thats why I think the podcast I host,AARPsThe Perfect ScamSM, is so important.
Show me dont tell me is the oldest piece of advice in storytelling.
Thats why we makeThe Perfect Scam.
We have to talk about it.
This fall,were celebrating the 100th episodeofThe Perfect Scam, which launched in 2018.
We hope youll listen to the podcasts and get to meet those heroes.
Unfortunately, were pretty sure itll be no problem to come up with the next 100 episodes.
In some cases last names have been withheld and first names changed for privacy.
Mom, like help me.
These guys, theyve taken me, she remembered hearing.
Then a man grabbed the phone and said, OK, weve got your daughter here.
How much would you pay for your daughters life?
Unless you do what we say, we are going to kill her.
They told Robinette to drive to her bank.
Then, she was instructed to wire money to an address in Mexico.
They led her to one store, and another, sending her clear across Phoenix.
Each time she sent money, they asked for more.
This went on for, like, all day.
Then they wouldnt let me sleep at night, Robinette said.
So she headed down I-17 past Tucson and crossed the border.
She was told to drive home and wait for instructions on picking up her daughter.
After an hours-long hassle during which she was frantic over her daughters fate, she was released.
She eventually called her daughters cellphone.
And her daughter answered.
Kristen, are you OK?
Sitting right here at my house, her daughter replied.
Im like, Oh [bleep].
Everything just sort of fell apart, Robinette said.
Criminals ambush victims at odd times and scare them into sending money.
The FBI has issued multiple warnings about the scam.
Robinette sent about $11,000 to her virtual kidnappers, and the incident still haunts her.
I dont know how long it was before I got enough sleep, she said.
But then I got to thinking,They got their money, what do they want with me now?
The former nurse turned to the internet looking for people dealing with similar heartache.
But what she encountered there were predators.
When Dad passed is when they really hit hard.
Soon Lisa was caught up in a whirl of cyber-relationships.
