Info:: I met a man on the internet about 4 years ago...spent time talking to him on line and in a particular chat room that we spent a lot of time in.  Over the course of time, and after tons of email "love letters", I found myself "in love" with this man.  He had sent me pictures of himself, (and I must admit, he was/is very good looking) he came and met me (a bunch of us on line buddies met for a big get together several times)  My God, I found this man to be the man of my dreams, or so I thought.  He was charming, witty, had a heart of gold, we both enjoyed the same things, he professed his undying love for me, called me sweet nick names, i.e., hon...darling...sweetheart, and was just in general, he seemed and sounded like a real catch.  But things started to ring just a tad "off", and I'm not sure that I can remember exactly what things it was, but as time went on I found myself questioning some of his words as I would see them pop up on the screen.  I do remember however, that he had told me numerous things about himself that started to seem "odd".  His finance' was killed in a car accident several years back along with his unborn son.  His sister was dying of MS and he and his family had no idea how long she'd last.  His "real" parents had been killed in a plane crash when he and his twin brother were very small.  (This should have stopped me dead in my tracks, but he would never answer his phone when it rang at his house, nor would he allow the volume of his answering machine up when I was there).  He claimed that he was a Viet Nam vet and a POW (but escaped). He told me a grenade blew up in his face.  He claimed that he fought the enemy almost singlehandly.  I have since learned he was not too accurate in his lies. He never introduced me to any of his friends, but would refer to me as his "friend", instead of his finance' or girlfriend.  He claimed he suffered a heart attack but when I flew there and got to the hospital, he had nothing hooked up to him, no IV's, no EKG's...no heart monitor.....nadda!!!  He told me he had made this come back in life after suffering all these tragedies.  He claimed he was some doctor at a local hospital treating the drug problems of young adults, and was some shrink that helped all people.  Interesting when he told me he lost his job....can doctors really get laid off?

After quite some time, we decided that I would move to his city, which was over 2,500 miles away from where I was living.  I was so excited, as I wanted to go back to the place that I once lived and start over, with him of course.  We (or should I say "I") made all these plans to quit my job here, leave my long time friends, not to mention my kids and other family members.  To make a long story somewhat shorter, he didn't help with a thing.  I loaded a truck with my life in tow and me and my two kitties headed west.  When I finally made it there, he appeared to not want anything to do with me.  Interesting that he "couldn't" allow me to live with him since his attorney had advised against it, and don't forget he asked me to marry him. I would ask him to go places with me or show me around, and all he would do would be draw me a map, or tell me he had some unfinished business and reports to finish.  He even had a 30 year class reunion to attend while I was out there, which he did not invite me to only because "he thought I would not enjoy myself".  He also had a dinner engagement for his adopted father that I wasn't asked to attend.

I finally, as sad as it was, and for as silly and ashamed as I felt, left one day.  I packed up my world, did not tell him I was leaving, loaded it on a truck and headed back east, 2,500 miles.  And I'm not sorry I did in fact leave, actually I'm grateful that I made it out of there unhurt, other than just my ego.

I have learned a ton from this experience, and from what I've read, I see I'm not the only one who has been a victim of such a degrading experience, but at least I'm alive.  I can put my life back together, with the help of people that really care and really want me in their lives.  Its been a long struggle, as when I got back to my hometown, I was broke and didn't have a job.  But I've come a long way, I am working, I have my own place to live, my kids love me and spend a lot of time with me, and I know today that I am a worthwhile person.

All I can say, is if anyone reading this, sees anything that throws up a red flag, or sounds all to familiar....RUN FOR YOUR LIFE!!!