I was new to internet dating in 2003.  After a painful end to a 14 year relationship, a friend convinced me to go online.  I placed my ad fearful no one would respond, but as my mailbox began to fill my confidence grew.  I live in Texas and he lived in California, but his profile said mileage was only a number that could be overcome.  I liked his profile, it seemed friendly and inviting, so I responded to his e-mail.  He told me he owned his own business (which was true) and he traveled to service his accounts in Texas often.  We spent long hours on the phone.  He was so attentive.  He'd send poetry and cards and call at least three times a day.  How naive I was - I was hooked before even meeting him.  After a couple of months we met.  He told me he wanted to marry me on his very first visit.  I suppose I was desparate.  I accepted.  The coming next few months were a fantasy come true.  He had the type of business he could live anywhere, and we decided he would move to Texas and we would look for a home while living in my condominium.  My mother thew a very lavish engagement party for us.  My relatives all liked him.  He was so personable and intelligent.  As the time of his impending move grew close, I began to have this feeling of dread.  I shrugged it off as fear. 

 

I wish I would have listened to my gut feelings now.  He moved to Texas and into my home in October 2003 . What ensued in the following weeks was a nightmare.  He wasn't at all the man I met.  He lied about everything.... Finances, education and even smoking!  I can't stand the smell of cigarettes, and was specific about wanting to meet a nonsmoker.  How he hid that from me elludes me to this day.  He had a strange fixation on his daughter and dead parents and obscessed on them hours a day.  There were all types of banking delays in transfering accounts.  I began loaning him money until the bank could straighten the situation out.  I continued to help him while he got on his feet.  Only he didn't get on his feet.  He got depressed, wouldn't get dressed and began sleeping all day while I went to work.  Then he became ill and ran up thousands of dollars worth of bills in an emergency room.  I had a second cell phone line.  I never used my phones that much and was more than happy to share with him, and did made him aware of the monthly minute allotment.  Six weeks after his arrival he announced he had business along the west coast and wanted to visit his daughter.  The day he packed his bags he took everything including a vase he'd given as a gift.  Three days into the trip he stopped calling me.  I called him and told him this wasnt going to work, and may I have my cell phone back.  He agreed to send it, but not before I got the $790 dollar bill.  I spent another $200 breaking the contract.  As the days went on, I did more investigating and found out he did not have a Bachelors degree.  He lied about that, too.  Four years later, I am still receiving phone calls from creditors, attorneys and private investigators.  Either he is still using my number or he left a trail in Texas that is more grand than I can imagine.  I've told them all to let me know when they find him.  I'd like to get my more than 1,500 dollars back, too.  I recently ran across his ad on another want ad, but the minute he realized I was there, he blocked me.  I contacted the company and they said he deleted his account.  This man is a total con artist.