Austin Lewis

Thanks, guys. As a relative newbie, I continue to be amazed at how helpful everyone is and how much collective wisdom there is to be found here.

Thanks, guys. As a relative newbie, I continue to be amazed at how helpful everyone is and how much collective wisdom there is to be found here.

There's an old thread in which people poke fun at MuseForMen's ad copy. Understandably--it's definitely over the top. But the man himself is lovely, and I had one of my best-ever experiences with him recently. Without going into the "explicit details" that the moderators have asked us not to provide, I can say that he left me blissfully satisfied. Highly recommended.

There may be too many variables here for this to be a sensible question, but here goes. I'm preparing to move from City A to City B, and I'd like to bring my favorite guy up to City B for a two-day visit. Let's say his hourly rate is X and his overnight rate is 6X. (Rates are comparable in both cities.) I asked him what he would want for a two-day visit, and he just said I've always treated him well and he trusted me. I was thinking 15X plus travel and a couple of really nice dinners plus plenty of time for him to see the sights (City B has a lot of interesting stuff to see, and he's never been there before). I realize he can just say no or ask for more if he feels I'm lowballing him, but I'd rather make a good offer to begin with.

I know you're absolutely right.
I think I should block his number, but I'm also afraid to.

There's an old thread in which people poke fun at MuseForMen's ad copy. Understandably--it's definitely over the top. But the man himself is lovely, and I had one of my best-ever experiences with him recently. Without going into the "explicit details" that the moderators have asked us not to provide, I can say that he left me blissfully satisfied. Highly recommended.

Would you believe that bastard just texted me again? "How are you baby?" FFS. I just ignored him, and that seems to have worked (for now).

He needs money for this, he needs money for that. He claims he has compromising pictures (which is just barely possible--I'm convinced that he or his partner in crime drugged me). I've been just worried enough to give in, but he keeps coming back, despite the advice of my bankers not to. I'm giving in one more time. Then that has to be it.
Partly I'm asking for advice, but mostly I'm warning folks to stay away. He's very charming, and very clever, and very dangerous.

Hot, sweet, and accommodating. I would be with him 24/7 if I could. Based in Philadelphia but often in DC and NYC. Highly recommended.

Hot, sweet, and accommodating. I would be with him 24/7 if I could. Based in Philadelphia but often in DC and NYC. Highly recommended.

Yes, compromising pictures of me. And I was careful about what I said to the bankers. The one with whom I have a well-established relationship was very sympathetic: his firm has apparently had other clients in reasonably similar situations. He said I shouldn't pay up, and he was right. The other banker, who was basically a teller, didn't really know what was going on in any detail, but she also advised me (almost begged me) not to send the money.
I can understand why you're skeptical. I wouldn't believe it myself if I weren't going through it.

Would you believe that bastard just texted me again? "How are you baby?" FFS. I just ignored him, and that seems to have worked (for now).

Retired banker-turned-consultant here.
Firstly, @Austin Lewis I'm sorry you have experienced this and encourage you to take the advice you have received here as well as that provided by the associates at your bank.
Secondly, I want to reiterate what you have already heard - block this guy's number on your mobile phone, block his email, and block him on RM. In other words, cut off all communication with him.
Thirdly, @everyone else, financial institution employees are trained to spot and to thwart (to the best of their abilities) financial crimes like extortion, romance schemes, "sweepstakes," and other such frauds. Regardless of the exact job title, it's part of their jobs to spot these things and a regulatory requirement that they know how.
As to "don't all transactions take place using an app?" routine transactions like paying bills, checking balances, and sending small amounts of money using services like Zelle are easily done via an app. Some, not all, institutions allow wire transfers to be requested via an app. However, the wire will be verified and completed using a human being and a telephone call. For decades, institutions have been using analytical tools to flag suspicious transactions for verification. Whether it's called "AI" or "transaction monitoring," it dates back to the 1990's. 
And to those who question the term "banker," it is a catch-all term for people who work in a financial institution, such as a bank, savings bank, or credit union. You'll notice I called myself a "retired banker." My role was technology oversight and vendor governance director. Despite not being in a customer contact or transaction execution role, I was still considered a "banker" because I worked in a bank.

Would you believe that bastard just texted me again? "How are you baby?" FFS. I just ignored him, and that seems to have worked (for now).

I'm not sure why that's odd, but here goes. The "bankers" are the guy I had to talk to about getting the money wired into my account and the woman at the bank who did the wire to my scammer. Both of them encouraged me to refuse to play along, and they were right. And I went to the sheriff's department because I was in a panic and afraid. He referred me to their fraud department, which turned out to be less helpful--but thanks to this forum, I know what to do now.

He needs money for this, he needs money for that. He claims he has compromising pictures (which is just barely possible--I'm convinced that he or his partner in crime drugged me). I've been just worried enough to give in, but he keeps coming back, despite the advice of my bankers not to. I'm giving in one more time. Then that has to be it.
Partly I'm asking for advice, but mostly I'm warning folks to stay away. He's very charming, and very clever, and very dangerous.

Thanks so much! That is indeed the same person.

He needs money for this, he needs money for that. He claims he has compromising pictures (which is just barely possible--I'm convinced that he or his partner in crime drugged me). I've been just worried enough to give in, but he keeps coming back, despite the advice of my bankers not to. I'm giving in one more time. Then that has to be it.
Partly I'm asking for advice, but mostly I'm warning folks to stay away. He's very charming, and very clever, and very dangerous.

He needs money for this, he needs money for that. He claims he has compromising pictures (which is just barely possible--I'm convinced that he or his partner in crime drugged me). I've been just worried enough to give in, but he keeps coming back, despite the advice of my bankers not to. I'm giving in one more time. Then that has to be it.
Partly I'm asking for advice, but mostly I'm warning folks to stay away. He's very charming, and very clever, and very dangerous.

He needs money for this, he needs money for that. He claims he has compromising pictures (which is just barely possible--I'm convinced that he or his partner in crime drugged me). I've been just worried enough to give in, but he keeps coming back, despite the advice of my bankers not to. I'm giving in one more time. Then that has to be it.
Partly I'm asking for advice, but mostly I'm warning folks to stay away. He's very charming, and very clever, and very dangerous.