Our Time/Senior People Meet Dating Site Nigerian Scammers Internet

This was my first time ever on a dating site.  I had no idea these "romance scams" existed.  I met a man on Our Time/Senior People Meet in Dec., 2014.  I am a senior (over 60).  His profile states he was a widowed Veterinarian from Texas.  His name:  Raffaello Vito      email:  (((REDACTED)))      Texas cell phone:  (((REDACTED)))

We communicated for 6 months.  He said he often traveled "out of the country" to treat horses (his specialty).  After he gained my trust, the $$ requests started--said he needed $$ for vaccines to be shipped out of the country.  He asked me to wire $$ to several USA banks.  The scam ended with his weak voice on the phone telling me he was admitted to Intensive Care with severe chest pain and needed $$ for an emergency angioplasty.  He even had someone posing as his doctor call me.

After finally becoming suspicious, I emailed his info to romancescams.org and, within minutes, they emailed me back and identified him as an illegal Nigerian scammer living in Malaysia.  Dating site profile (including pics) were fake.  After he was done with me, he again posted his profile back on the same dating site with the same name and same fake pictures.

If he was identified so easily as a "known scammer", why doesn't the dating site have this capability?  If they are aware their product is enabling the commission of a crime, they are being negligent in preventing it.  If you provide a service for a fee, you need to protect your clients!

After I reported this scammer to the dating site, they posted "warnings" about scammers and posted hallmark "red flags" to identify them.  (Too little--too late!!)  They expect the paying customer to identify scammers and report it to them--say what??  

 "You never really understand something until happens to you".  I am a fairly intelligent woman who fell for a voice on the phone and fake pictures.  Wow!!  I can't believe it happened to me either.  This predator picked me out of the crowd and knew exactly what he was doing.  Money loss was extensive.  I reported it to FBI, FTC, State Attorney General, etc.  I must face the reality everyday that I handed over my nest egg to a low-life scam artist.  I am told my only recourse is to hire an attorney (and pay for it with what??)  I feel like I am in the middle of a crowded room screaming--and no one pays attention!

Victims of these romance scams are looked at as being "desperate, lonely, or stupid".  I can assure you, I am none of those.  I was uninformed of the dangers lurking on dating sites.  I am guilty, however, of being naive and good hearted.  I pray every day that God will bring this scammer to justice and prevent him from inflicting this pain on more innocent victims...