Casanova Scammer uses “Privilege”

The Casanova Scammer

Brian Wedgeworth seemed to have a way with women.

Casanova Scammer

Posing as a medical doctor who had attended  such Ivy-ish universities as U Penn, Duke, and Harvard, he persuaded women he met on dating apps to send him large sums of money, luxury items — and even bank account information.

Wedgeworth admitted under oath that he telegraphed “privilege” by playing a doctor on Match.com, ChristianMingle, Elite Singles, and some other dating websites. He claimed to be affiliated with 8 different hospitals.

Women fell for him and his privileged persona and soon sent him money. He used the money from his scams to buy items like Rolex watches — and even tickets to a 2018 Sugar Bowl game between Clemson and Alabama.

Casanova Scammer

According to the Tallahassee Democrat, Wedgeworth pleaded guilty on May 19 in U.S. District Court to 25 counts of wire fraud, mail fraud, aggravated identity theft, and money laundering.

Formerly of Tallahassee, FL and Center Point, AL, Wedgeworth faces up to 20 years in prison on wire and mail fraud counts and up to 10 years for money laundering counts. The 46 y.o vet, who has an ex-wife, is slotted to be sentenced August 8 by Judge Robert Hinkle in the U.S. District Court in Tallahassee.

Wedgeworth has pleaded guilty to similar charges before, including dozens of counts of fraud and forgery in Georgia and Alabama.

Casanova Scammer just like the Tinder Swindler.

Wedgeworth’s scams have garnered lots of attention after Netflix showed the “Tinder Swindler” documentary in February.  Shimon Hayut (pictured with some of his victims), called himself Simon Leviev on Tinder. Like Wedgeworth, he operated primarily on Match Group platforms

Hayut was accused of scamming several women across Europe for approximately $10 million in just 2 years. He was sentenced to 15 months in prison in Israel, but served only 5 months.

Your take?

While we all know the financial adage that “a fool is born every minute,” the women victimized by these two men invested their hearts as well as their finances.

Both Wedgeworth and Hayut’s victims – like so many fraud victims– were carefully selected and targeted. Many of the victims of these “romance artists” fell for privilege and charm after being widowed, splitting from a fiancé, or  being scorned  by a lover.

Sitting ducks? What do you think?