This is the evolving story of a smaller Scam starting in September 2020 when I met Richard a 34 year, South-Korean, who was renting a single room from my best friend, Konrad the Magician. Little did I know, Richard turned out to be the best psychopath and scam artist I have ever met. He spent the first six months befriending our family of Fanny, her daughter (Carrie) and myself. Richard was at our home 3 or 4 times a week and often dinned with our family or took us out for expensive lunches/dinners. He also arrived each time with expensive treats and gifts. On top of it all, he laid new wood flooring in our living room, entry and hallway. We only paid for the supplies. He also gave me a Gucci men’s wallet with a $50 American bill that his grandfather had presented to him for good luck in business (one of many gifts).
Richard also arrange for his mother to fly business class to Canada in 2021 and 2022, so she and Fanny could get to know each other well. That was exactly what happened and she and Fanny became good friends. The plan was for his mother to immigrate to Canada and get into a small business that Richard would help her start.
In March 2021 Richard told me he was trading cryptocurrencies for Korean Canadians and had created a nest egg quickly. He wanted to share his good fortune with our family as we had treated him as a son and on March 25, 2021, we each agreed to invest $75,000 Canadian and become 50/50 partners. Dave was given 10% of the Calgary profit and Richard and I each got 45%.
He also flew Dave business class) and another South Korean to Edmonton to help him in the Calgary business. For the biggest part of 2021, I travelled to Calgary each Tuesday to deal with South Koreans living there. Richard told me that South Koreans did not like dealing with Canadians, and so I always stayed in the car while he went off on his own for 30 minutes to transact a deal. All crypto trading was done in South Korea through banks and trading firms. No one spoke good English except Richard, who had gone to public schooling in Wyoming, USA.
The 2021 profits from the Calgary Trade were great, and Fanny and my share ($70,511 CAN) for 2021 were given to us in cash. Richard still had our original investment of $75,000 Canadian. In 2022 he paid us a total profit of ($22,019 CAN) for Jan. to Sep. 2022. There were no further payments, although a profit of $2,005 was reported for Oct., and the original investment was just gone. His mother told Fanny he must have spent everything because nothing is left.
The other part of the business, which consisted of program trading of cryptocurrencies by Richard in South Korean Crypto accounts, allowed for no withdrawals of profits. Each partner was to invest $500,000 CAN, and profits would be shared 50/50. This time all reports were in US dollars. Stay tuned for PART 2 -The Big Scam.
9 responses to “MY UNSINKABLE SITUATION (Part 1 of 3) Feb. 03, 2023”
As I was reading your story, it felt like reading a thriller and it made me keep scrolling down to get to the bottom and find out what happened. It’s very unfortunate that there are many people who take advantage of others and scam them into giving their money in exchange for something bigger.
I’ve been scammed too last year too. It was a “supposed” group of medical companies that produces Covid-19 testing kits based in Australia. Fortunately, I only put in a small amount so when the “company” suddenly closed, it wasn’t that much of a deal to me. Rather, I took that as a huge lesson. ☺
Yours is very different because Richard took the time to gain your and your family’s trust.
I will be looking forward to the rest of your story to find out how it all ended.
Hi Alice,
Thanks for the comment. For the past month, I’ve been focused on completing “Lead Out Load Programs” by Sonia Ricotti in Ontario, Canada. If it wasn’t for her documentary “UNSINKABLE: The Secret to Bouncing Back,” I would be in a depression and seeking revenge like my wife. We separated a month ago, after 18 years of marriage with her receiving the family home and assets and me trying to get some of our investment back.
The police have investigated the case and tell me that Richard has been picked up by Canadian Border Services and is being returned to South Korea to face other charges. I am told he will probably face time in prison, in South Korea, but not to expect to recover any of our investment.
Life has totally changed for me, but I am focused on remaining positive and believe I will recover in 1 or 2 years. It has definitely provided motivation to monetize my websites on Wealthy Affiliate.
Regards,
Roger Humbke
Oh my, what an interesting story, and I’m sorry that happened to you. I’ve heard stories like these of scam artists pretending to be wealthy and gaining the trust of people. They see so well of that you would never imagine something is wrong. It just really shows that it is very difficult to trust people and you never know people’s really life versus what they are showing you. Bookmarking this and waiting for part 2!
Hi Victor,
Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts.
And to think I read twice, two books by Stephen M.R. Covey (“THE SPEED OF TRUST” 2006 and “SMART TRUST” 2012), and I was still scammed badly. It has destroyed an 18-year marriage, affected my health, and has me starting over financially – renting a room in a village of 800 people and going all in to reprogram my subconscious as to what beliefs
To me, there is a silver lining in every cloud, no matter how dark and destructive it is. I have to accept the facts and move on. Fortunately, I have been through this before at the age of 44 and again at the age of 57. Re-wiring a 79-year-old subconscious mind with new beliefs and finding the motivation to take action will be a great adventure and it will take me a year or two.
Forgiving the individual who I considered my best friend is not an easy task, but revenge, hatred and getting even will do more harm to me than him. If I just accept it and move on and If I can stay positive and enjoy the challenge of rising from the ashes, then the rest of my journey in this life will be rewarding and worth all my effort.
Best Regards,
Roger
Oh my, what an interesting story, and I’m sorry that happened to you. I’ve heard stories like these of scam artists pretending to be wealthy and gaining the trust of people. They see so well of that you would never imagine something is wrong. It just really shows that it is very difficult to trust people and you never know people’s really life versus what they are showing you. Bookmarking this and waiting for part 2!
I’ve had more than my fair share of narcissists over the course of my life and know, first hand, just how horrifying they are. Gives me the shivers to think about it. In fact, I almost couldn’t read this because I could tell, right away that something bad was coming. I’ve gotten to the point where I can see them a mile away.
I wish you all good things, moving forward from this experience and look forward to hearing about how you became unsinkable.
Take care,
Anna
Hi Anna,
Thanks for the comment. You are right about these scam artists creating havoc, hatred and creating negativity and despair where ever they go and whatever they do. I have been through it before, but it is still a challenge for me to determine just who I should trust. It is harder for my wife to accept and it has resulted in us now living separately a 100 miles apart.
Presently I spend 80% of my waking hours taking courses aimed at changing my subconscious mindset and beliefs that control 95% of how what my subconscious mind does by habit. You could say I have been struck with a scam, temporary financial ruin, a destroyed relationship, and a health problem.
It is time to regroup and find the silver lining of the thunder cloud I have found myself in.
Roger
Wow. This is an amazing scenario. I mess around with crypto but certainly not in those amounts. It’s a pretty volatile space. It seems like this person could be trusted. You had known if very well for a reasonable period of time. I am looking forward to reading the next installment. One thing that struck me is that you are reporting the facts and circumstances at this point. There is no anger in what you are reporting. Great writing… great account. Keep it coming.
Jim
Hi Anastazja,
I appreciate your kind remarks, but I am still responsible for the situation that I am in, and I need to make some significant changes to rectify my Unsinkable Position.
Firstly, I signed up with Sonia Ricotti for her “Unsinkable Bounce Back System 2.0” ($259.35US) on Jan. 28, 2023 and in the last 45 days have immersed myself in her training and exercises. I can thank this program for getting me back on track toward finding the silver lining in the blackest cloud I have ever been in.
My positivism and motivation to CHANGE my thoughts have never been more potent.
Richard Park has been granted 30 days to appeal his extradition from Canada to South Korea, so will do an up-date in late April.
Roger Humbke