ScamsNOW!
The SCARS Institute Magazine about Scam Victims-Survivors, Scams, Fraud & Cybercrime
Loren Esse of Des Moines – Police Arrest A Money Mule
By SCARS Editorial Team – Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.
Loren Esse was Scammed into scamming? Police say a Des Moines, Iowa man was tricked into stealing around $200,000
Loren Esse of Des Moines Became A Money Mule But When Notified By The Police He Refused To Stop!
According to WHO13:
Loren Christopher Esse, 71, has been accused of helping phone scammers by collecting cash from the victims and depositing the cash into a Bitcoin ATM. According to a criminal complaint, Esse took $13,800 from one victim and deposited the money into a Bitcoin ATM in June.
Sgt. Parizek said Loren Esse continued to aid the scammers despite the initial conversation. Investigators spoke with Esse a second time and again informed him that what he was doing was illegal but he continued, Sgt. Parizek said.
Loren Esse has been charged with money laundering – planning or financing transaction. A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for Sept. 6.
Sgt. Parizek said the department has seen an increase in these kinds of cases over the past year. This year alone victims have lost nearly $500,000 to phone scams, he said.
“It horribly impacts peoples’ lives if they fall prey to it,” Sgt. Parizek said. “Close to half a million dollars that people are being defrauded and that’s life changing. It changes your retirement, it changes your healthcare, it changes every plan you have.”
According to KCCI8 of DES MOINES, Iowa:
Police said scammers tricked a man into working for them by convincing him they were a government agency investigating cybercrime.
Loren Esse of Des Moines is facing charges for participation in a money laundering scheme that he was convinced was an investigation.
“Loren Esse started out in this case as a victim,” Des Moines Police Department Sgt. Paul Parizek said. “But as he continued on moving this money through these accounts and putting the cash into bitcoin and sending it on, what we realized was that he’s actually helping them facilitate this crime unknowingly.”
Parizek said police tried telling Loren Esse the scheme wasn’t real and that he needed to stop, but he was convinced the scammers were legitimate and kept helping them. The only way to stop him, was to arrest him.
“There’s no detectives high-fiving each other over this. This is not something we are excited about; these scammers are very convincing,” Parizek said.
So convincing, the department estimates phone scams have stolen around half a million dollars from the Des Moines metro. Esse was discovered to have sent scammers around $200,000 he had obtained from people.
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Statement About Victim Blaming
Some of our articles discuss various aspects of victims. This is both about better understanding victims (the science of victimology) and their behaviors and psychology. This helps us to educate victims/survivors about why these crimes happened and not to blame themselves, better develop recovery programs, and help victims avoid scams in the future. At times, this may sound like blaming the victim, but it does not blame scam victims; we are simply explaining the hows and whys of the experience victims have.
These articles, about the Psychology of Scams or Victim Psychology – meaning that all humans have psychological or cognitive characteristics in common that can either be exploited or work against us – help us all to understand the unique challenges victims face before, during, and after scams, fraud, or cybercrimes. These sometimes talk about some of the vulnerabilities the scammers exploit. Victims rarely have control of them or are even aware of them, until something like a scam happens, and then they can learn how their mind works and how to overcome these mechanisms.
Articles like these help victims and others understand these processes and how to help prevent them from being exploited again or to help them recover more easily by understanding their post-scam behaviors. Learn more about the Psychology of Scams at www.ScamPsychology.org
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Psychology Disclaimer:
All articles about psychology and the human brain on this website are for information & education only
The information provided in this and other SCARS articles are intended for educational and self-help purposes only and should not be construed as a substitute for professional therapy or counseling.
Note about Mindfulness: Mindfulness practices have the potential to create psychological distress for some individuals. Please consult a mental health professional or experienced meditation instructor for guidance should you encounter difficulties.
While any self-help techniques outlined herein may be beneficial for scam victims seeking to recover from their experience and move towards recovery, it is important to consult with a qualified mental health professional before initiating any course of action. Each individual’s experience and needs are unique, and what works for one person may not be suitable for another.
Additionally, any approach may not be appropriate for individuals with certain pre-existing mental health conditions or trauma histories. It is advisable to seek guidance from a licensed therapist or counselor who can provide personalized support, guidance, and treatment tailored to your specific needs.
If you are experiencing significant distress or emotional difficulties related to a scam or other traumatic event, please consult your doctor or mental health provider for appropriate care and support.
Also read our SCARS Institute Statement about Professional Care for Scam Victims – click here
If you are in crisis, feeling desperate, or in despair, please call 988 or your local crisis hotline.
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A Question of Trust
At the SCARS Institute, we invite you to do your own research on the topics we speak about and publish. Our team investigates the subject being discussed, especially when it comes to understanding the scam victims-survivors’ experience. You can do Google searches, but in many cases, you will have to wade through scientific papers and studies. However, remember that biases and perspectives matter and influence the outcome. Regardless, we encourage you to explore these topics as thoroughly as you can for your own awareness.
In my humble opinion, these romance criminals are dangerous creatures, creating havoc to the fabric of our societies. For example, dating sites have become fertile breeding grounds for criminals to operate freely and unabated. What can be done to convince these businesses to do more to weed out fake profiles and protect their clientele?