He Flew 8 Times To Thailand For The “Love Of His Life” – She Had 6 Fiancés At The Same Time

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His co-workers noticed the change.

“Bob, you’re actually smiling these days,” his colleague Jim said one afternoon.

“What’s going on?” Robert felt embarrassed but also proud.

I met someone.

She’s from Thailand.

We’ve been talking for a few months now.

Jim’s face changed slightly.

Be careful with those Asian dating sites, man.

I’ve heard stories.

Robert bristled.

Not everyone is a scammer, Jim.

Some people are genuine.

Siri is genuine.

I can tell.

Jim shrugged and dropped the subject.

But Robert noticed the skeptical look on his face.

That skepticism made Robert defensive, which would later prove to be exactly what Siri wanted.

When people questioned the relationship, Robert dug in harder, needing to prove them wrong, needing to believe that his instincts were correct and that love could still find him even in his 50s, even through a computer screen.

In May, after 3 months of daily conversations, Siri made a simple statement that would change everything.

Robert, I think I am falling in love with you.

I know we not meet yet, but my heart feels something special.

I never feel this way before.

Robert sat in his living room, staring at those words on his phone screen.

Feeling tears in his eyes for the first time since his divorce was finalized, he typed and deleted his response five times before settling on.

I feel the same way, Siri.

I think about you constantly.

I want to meet you in person.

I want to hold you.

Her response came immediately.

I want that too so much, but I am scared.

What if you not like me in real life? What if I am not beautiful like photos? What if my English too bad? Robert laughed out loud at the absurdity of her insecurity.

Siri, you’re beautiful.

Your English is perfect to me.

I don’t care about any of that.

I care about who you are as a person.

And from everything we’ve talked about, you’re the most amazing woman I’ve met in years.

That night, Robert researched flights to Thailand.

Roundtrip tickets from Denver to Phuket cost approximately 400 doselters.

He had the money.

He had 2 weeks of vacation time saved up.

He could go.

He should go.

If this was real, if this connection was genuine, then meeting her in person was the logical next step.

He sent her a message before bed.

What if I came to visit you? What if I flew to Thailand so we could meet? Would you want that? Her response came while he slept.

When he woke up at 6:00 am to his alarm, he immediately checked his phone.

Oh, Robert.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

I would love that so much.

When can you come? I will take time off work.

We can spend every day together.

I will show you Thailand.

We will have most beautiful time.

My heart’s so happy right now.

Robert booked the flight that morning during his coffee break.

He would fly to Thailand in 3 weeks, stay for 10 days, and finally meet the woman who had become the center of his emotional world.

He told his daughter Amy about the trip when she called that weekend.

“Dad, that seems really fast,” she said, concern clear in her voice.

“You’ve only been talking to her for 3 months.

You don’t really know this person.

Amy, I’m 52 years old.

I think I can judge character by now.

She’s a good person.

I can feel it.

But Dad, what if she’s not who she says she is? What if this is some kind of scam? Robert felt anger rising.

Why does everyone assume the worst? Why can’t anyone just be happy for me? Your mother left me for another man.

I’ve been alone for 3 years.

I finally meet someone who makes me feel alive again, and all I get is skepticism and warnings.

Amy went quiet for a moment.

I’m sorry, Dad.

I’m just worried about you.

I don’t want you to get hurt.

I know, honey.

I appreciate it.

But I need you to trust me on this.

I’m being careful.

I’ve done my research.

Siri is real.

This is real.

The flight to Thailand was the longest trip Robert had ever taken.

17 hours total with a layover in Tokyo.

He barely slept, too nervous and excited.

He had packed carefully, bringing nice clothes for dinners, casual clothes for the beach, and a small velvet box that contained a gold necklace he had bought for Siri.

It cost $340, which seemed reasonable for someone he was falling in love with.

Siri had sent him detailed instructions about the airport, about taking a taxi to his hotel, about safety in Thailand.

She had also sent increasingly affectionate messages in the days leading up to his arrival.

I count hours until I see you.

I already love you so much, Robert.

This will be most special time of my life.

When Robert’s plane landed in Phuket at 11 pm on June 14th, 2019, he was exhausted but running on pure adrenaline.

He collected his luggage, went through customs, and emerged into the arrivals area where hundreds of people held signs with names, and there she was.

Sirorn stood near the back of the crowd, holding a small sign that said Robert in careful handwriting.

She wore a simple white dress and looked even more beautiful than her photos.

When their eyes met, she smiled so widely that Robert felt his heart actually skip a beat.

He walked toward her quickly, abandoning his luggage cart, and when he reached her, she hugged him immediately.

“So happy you here,” she said into his shoulder.

“So, so happy.

” They stayed like that for a long moment, holding each other in the chaotic airport.

And Robert felt something he had not felt in years.

Hope.

Pure uncomplicated hope that his life might actually get better.

That loneliness might not be his permanent state.

That this beautiful woman in his arms might actually care about him.

The first three days in Fuket were magical in the way that new relationships always are.

when reality has not yet intruded.

Siri took time off from her hotel job and they spent every waking hour together.

She showed him the beaches, the local markets, the small restaurants where tourists never went.

She held his hand in public, kissed him sweetly, introduced him to some of her friends as my boyfriend from America.

They stayed in separate rooms at Robert’s hotel for the first two nights.

Siri claiming that Thai culture required modesty and slow progression in relationships.

Robert respected this, even found it charming.

On the third night, after a romantic dinner on the beach, Siri came back to his hotel room and they slept together for the first time.

Afterward, as they lay in bed with the sound of waves through the open window, Siri said something that should have been a warning sign, but which Robert heard as vulnerability and trust.

Robert, I need to tell you something.

I have some money problems.

My mother is sick and need medicine.

I try to send money to village every month, but this month I am short.

I feel so ashamed to tell you this.

Robert immediately went into protective mode.

How much do you need? Siri hesitated.

Maybe 15,000 Bart is about $450.

I pay you back when I get salary next week.

I promise.

Robert got out of bed and retrieved his wallet from the hotel safe.

He handed her $500 in cash, the emergency money he had brought for the trip.

Don’t worry about paying me back.

I want to help.

Your mother needs medicine.

Family is important.

Siri cried actual tears and kissed him repeatedly.

You are most wonderful man.

I am so lucky.

I love you so much.

That moment, that exchange of money wrapped in emotion and gratitude set the pattern for everything that would follow.

The rest of the trip continued in the same dreamlike way.

They visited temples, took a boat to nearby islands, ate countless meals together.

Siri never asked for more money directly, but she did mention in passing that her rent was due soon and she was worried about being short.

Robert gave her another $300 without being asked.

She also mentioned that she wanted to buy a new phone because her current one kept breaking.

Robert took her to a phone shop and bought her an iPhone 11 for $800.

Each time he gave her money or gifts, she cried and thanked him and told him how different he was from other men, how generous, how kind.

When Robert’s 10 days in Thailand ended, saying goodbye at the airport was genuinely painful for both of them.

Siri cried openly, holding on to him.

When you come back, she asked.

I cannot be without you long time.

Soon? Robert promised.

I’ll save up and come back soon.

Maybe in a few months.

She kissed him one more time.

I wait for you.

I am your girl now.

Only your girl.

The flight home felt completely different from the flight there.

Robert was exhausted but happy.

Already planning his next trip.

already thinking about how they could make this work long term.

Maybe Siri could get a visa to visit America.

Maybe they could get married.

It had only been 4 months since they first started talking.

But when you know, you know.

His daughter Amy picked him up from the Denver airport.

“So, how was it?” she asked carefully.

“It was perfect,” Robert said, unable to stop smiling.

She’s even more amazing in person.

I think this is really serious, Amy.

I think she might be the one.

Amy glanced at him while driving.

That’s great, Dad.

I’m happy for you.

Just please be careful.

Okay, I know.

I know.

Everyone keeps saying that, but Amy, you don’t understand.

When you meet the right person, you just feel it.

After 3 years of being alone, I finally feel alive again.

What Robert did not know as he unpacked his suitcase that night in his quiet house in Denver was that Sapornne had six other men in her life at that exact moment.

Six other men who believed they were her one true love.

Six other men who were planning trips to Thailand.

Six other men who were sending money regularly.

six other men who had no idea they were part of an organized system of romance fraud, that Seriporn had been operating for the past four years.

Sirorn’s real name was Pornip Saiang.

She was 36, not 34.

She did not work at a hotel.

She worked full-time as a romance scammer, managing multiple relationships simultaneously with military precision.

She lived in a nice apartment in Bangkok, not a small room in Phuket.

The photos she used on dating sites were professionally taken years earlier when she had briefly worked as a promotional model.

The background about her poor village and sick mother was partially true.

Her mother did live in a village in her mother was healthy, and Pornip sent money home regularly from her scamming income, not from any legitimate job.

Pornip had gotten into romance scamming almost by accident four years earlier when she was working as a bar girl in Paya.

A western man had fallen for her, sent her money for months, and then simply disappeared without ever visiting.

She had kept the money, approximately $3,000 total, and realized that this could be a business model.

She created profiles on multiple dating sites, learned what Western men wanted to hear, studied their psychology and loneliness, and refined her approach until it became almost scientific.

She kept detailed notes on each man.

Robert Mitchell, 52, Denver, Colorado, telecommunications manager, divorced 3 years, one daughter, lonely and defensive about it.

Retirement account approximately $145,000.

Owns house worth approximately $320,000.

Vulnerable to mother sick story.

Responds well to tears and vulnerability.

Good for $500 to $1,000 per request.

Visit Thailand every 3 to 4 months.

Total potential value $30,000 to $50,000 over 2 years.

She had similar notes on the other five men.

David Chen, 48, San Francisco, software engineer, never married.

Sends $800 monthly plus larger amounts for emergencies.

Total extracted so far $14,000.

Nervous personality, needs constant reassurance.

Marcus Williams, 55, Atlanta, recently retired police officer, widowerower, very traditional values, responds well to talk of marriage and family.

sent $6,000 for visa application that will never happen.

Visiting Thailand in August.

James Peterson, 61, Seattle, divorced twice.

Own small business.

Already proposed marriage.

Sent $12,000 for wedding planning and family obligations.

Planning to move to Thailand permanently within a year.

Thomas Anderson, 45, Phoenix, military veteran with PTSD.

extremely vulnerable emotionally, sends $600 monthly for various family emergencies.

Total extracted $9,000, easy to manipulate through guilt.

Steven Murphy, 50, Boston, accountant, divorced with two sons, very intelligent but very lonely, most difficult to manage, but highest income.

Sent $8,000 so far visiting Thailand in September.

Pornip managed these relationships using multiple phones, each dedicated to a different identity.

Siri’s phone was the iPhone Robert had bought her, which she used exclusively for communication with him.

She had a schedule written on a whiteboard in her apartment.

Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Robert time, video calls, 8:00 pm Thailand time.

Tuesday, Thursday, David time messages throughout day call 900 pm Thailand time Marcus on Saturday mornings James on Sunday evenings Thomas during his lunch break Arizona time which was evening in Thailand Steven before he went to bed east coast time which was morning in Thailand.

She never mixed them up.

She had different personalities for each man based on what they responded to.

With Robert, she was sweet and vulnerable, emphasizing how much she needed his protection and care.

With David, she was more intellectual and asked him technical questions about his work.

With Marcus, she played the traditional Thai woman looking for a strong man to lead.

With James, she was the devoted future wife planning their life together.

With Thomas, she was the understanding woman who helped him deal with his trauma.

With Steven, she was the intelligent woman who could discuss books and politics.

Her apartment had different background settings for video calls.

One corner with simple furniture for Robert, who believed she lived in a small room.

Another corner with nicer furniture for Steven, who she told she had a better job.

She changed clothes between calls, maintained different hairstyles, and even slightly altered her speech patterns and vocabulary depending on who she was talking to.

It was exhausting work, requiring constant attention and careful recordkeeping.

But it was also lucrative.

In a country where the average monthly salary was $15,000 Bart, about $450, Pornip was making approximately $4,000 to $6,000 per month from her six boyfriends.

Over 4 years, she had extracted approximately $180,000 from various men, most of whom she never met in person.

The men she did agree to meet, like Robert, were carefully selected based on several criteria.

They needed to be generous early in the relationship, demonstrating willingness to send money.

They needed to be geographically distant enough that surprise visits were unlikely.

They needed to be emotionally vulnerable enough to overlook small inconsistencies.

And most importantly, they needed to be the type of men who would blame themselves rather than her if problems arose.

men with low self-esteem who felt lucky that someone like her would give them attention.

Robert Mitchell fit the profile perfectly.

When he had first sent her a message back in February, Pornip had immediately recognized the markers.

Divorced, lonely, defensive about online dating, middle-aged, but still wanting to feel desirable, financially stable, but not wealthy enough to hire investigators or lawyers.

She had studied his Facebook profile, his LinkedIn, even found an old newspaper article about his telecommunications company that mentioned him by name.

She knew his daughter’s name, his ex-wife’s name, his hobbies, his interests.

She knew that he posted a lot about hiking and craft beer, so she had researched both topics enough to have basic conversations.

She knew he was a Broncos fan, so she had learned a few things about American football.

Every detail mattered.

The sick mother story was something she used with all her marks because it was simultaneously sympathetic, culturally specific enough to be believable, and impossible to verify.

Western men knew that health care in Thailand was different.

That families in rural areas struggled.

That beautiful daughters sent money home.

They never asked to speak to the mother.

They never asked for medical records.

They just wanted to be the hero who solved the problem.

The marriage story she used with James was different.

James actually believed they were engaged and planning a wedding.

She had sent him photos of herself in a wedding dress, told him about Thai marriage customs that required payments to the family, extracted $12,000 for various wedding related expenses.

The wedding would never happen, but James did not know that yet.

Of the six men, only two had actually visited Thailand.

Robert and Marcus.

Marcus had come three months before Robert, staying for a week, and she had run the same basic playbook.

Airport pickup, magical dates, cultural experiences, sex after a few days, emotional goodbye, promises to return soon.

Marcus had given her about $2,000 during his visit, slightly less than Robert, but he also sent money monthly, so he was still profitable.

Managing visits was the most stressful part of her operation because it required her to be fully present and fully committed to the character she was playing.

For the week Robert was there, she could not check messages from other men.

She could not take calls.

She had to maintain the fiction completely which was emotionally draining.

Even though she felt no guilt about what she was doing, Pornip did not think of herself as a bad person.

She thought of herself as a businesswoman.

These men had money and loneliness.

She had beauty and time.

It was a transaction.

They got to feel loved and desired.

She got to support herself and her family.

In her mind, everyone benefited.

Yes, she lied about who she was.

Yes, she manufactured crises to extract money.

Yes, she juggled multiple relationships simultaneously.

But she did not force anyone to send money.

She did not steal credit cards or forge documents.

She simply provided emotional services and got paid for it.

If these men were foolish enough to fall in love with a woman they met on the internet, that was their problem, not hers.

This rationalization allowed her to sleep well at night, to send money home to her mother with pride, to go out with friends and laugh about the stupid foreigners who believed her stories.

Her friends knew what she did.

Several of them did similar work.

It was almost normalized in certain circles in Thailand, especially among women who had worked in the bar industry and discovered that romance scamming was easier and more lucrative than actual sex work.

You did not have to touch anyone you did not want to touch.

You did not have to drink until you were sick.

You just had to type messages and make video calls and occasionally meet a man in person for a week or two per year.

The biggest challenge was keeping the stories straight, remembering which man knew which details, making sure photos sent to one man did not accidentally get sent to another.

Pornip had a detailed spreadsheet on her computer with tabs for each man, listing every conversation topic, every amount sent, every story told, every promise made.

She updated it daily.

She also had a private Facebook account under her real name where she posted her actual life, photos with friends, trips she took with money from the scams, her nice apartment, her actual personality.

None of her marks had access to this account.

They only saw the Syria account, which posted occasional photos of beaches and temples and simple captions about missing them.

Robert returned home from his first Thailand trip and immediately began planning his return.

He told himself he would wait at least 3 months, maybe four, to save money and to prove to his skeptical friends and family that this was not some impulsive obsession.

But he missed Siri constantly.

They video called every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 8:00 pm Thailand time, which was 6:00 am Colorado time.

Robert started waking up early specifically for these calls.

Making coffee in the dark kitchen, sitting in front of his laptop with sleepy eyes just to see her face and hear her voice.

The financial requests continued, but they were spaced out strategically.

A week after he returned, Siri messaged him that the landlord was threatening to increase her rent and she might have to move.

Robert sent $400.

Two weeks later, she mentioned that she needed to pay for her mother’s medicine again and felt so ashamed to ask.

Robert sent $500 without her even asking directly.

In July, she said her motorcycle had broken down and she could not get to work without it.

Robert sent $800.

Each time she cried and thanked him and promised she would pay him back, though she never did, and he never asked her to.

By August, Robert had sent Siri a total of $3,940 beyond what he had spent during his visit.

His co-workers noticed he was bringing lunch from home instead of going out.

His daughter noticed he had canled his cable TV subscription and his gym membership.

When Amy asked about it, Robert said he was just trying to save money.

For what, Dad? For my next trip to Thailand.

Amy, I’m thinking about going again in September or October.

Amy’s face fell.

Dad, that’s crazy.

You were just there two months ago.

And how much money have you sent her? Robert felt defensive anger rising again.

The same feeling he got whenever anyone questioned his relationship.

That’s none of your business, Amy.

I’m an adult.

I can spend my money however I want.

She’s not some gold digger.

She has real problems and I’m helping her.

Dad, please listen to me.

This sounds exactly like those scams you always hear about.

Foreign women on dating sites who ask for money.

Robert stood up from Amy’s dining room table.

I think I should go.

You clearly don’t understand, and I’m tired of defending my relationship to people who haven’t even met her.

Amy, I’ve met your mother.

I know what a real relationship looks like.

This is not it.

Those words stung more than Robert wanted to admit.

He left Amy’s house without finishing dinner, drove home in angry silence, and immediately messaged Siri.

“My daughter doesn’t understand us.

She thinks you’re using me.

” Siri responded within minutes with a crying emoji.

“That hurt me so much, Robert.

I love you.

I never use you.

You help me because you good man with good heart.

If she cannot see that, maybe she not good daughter.

Maybe she jealous because you love someone else.

Now this response made Robert feel better, validating his anger toward Amy and reinforcing his belief that Siri was genuine.

What he did not realize was that Pornip had studied basic psychology and understood how to isolate marks from their support systems.

When family or friends expressed skepticism, she immediately positioned herself as the victim of that skepticism.

Making the Mark choose between believing his family or believing her.

Markx almost always chose her because choosing her validated their judgment and their need to believe the relationship was real.

Robert booked his second flight to Thailand in early September, just 3 months after his first visit.

This trip cost $1,600 for airfare, plus another $2,000 he budgeted for 10 days of expenses.

He also bought Siri a gold bracelet before leaving, spending $620 at a jewelry store in Denver.

He told his boss he was taking another vacation to Thailand, and he noticed the skeptical look he received, but ignored it.

When Robert landed in Fuket on September 18th, 2019, Siri was waiting at the airport again with the same welcoming smile.

They hugged and kissed.

And Robert felt the same rush of emotion he had felt the first time.

She looked beautiful.

She seemed genuinely happy to see him.

This was real.

This was love.

The second trip followed a similar pattern to the first.

beach days, romantic dinners, temples and markets, passionate nights at the hotel.

But there were some small differences that Robert noticed but rationalized away.

Siri’s phone rang several times, and she always stepped outside to answer, saying it was her boss from the hotel, even though she had taken time off work.

She seemed more distracted, checking her phone more frequently.

When Robert suggested they take a spontaneous day trip to Bangkok, she said they could not because she had family obligations.

One evening, Robert thought he saw her having an animated conversation in Thai with a western man at a restaurant, but when he asked about it, she said it was just a hotel guest asking for directions.

The financial requests on this trip were larger.

Siri mentioned that her brother had gotten into legal trouble and needed funds for a lawyer.

Robert gave it to her.

She said her mother needed surgery and the family needed to raise $2,000 to pay the hospital.

Robert gave her $1,000 and promised to send the rest when he got home.

By the end of the 10-day trip, Robert had given Siri approximately $4,800 in cash beyond his trip expenses.

When he confronted his bank account after returning to Denver, he was shocked to see that he had spent nearly $8,500 in 3 weeks.

His savings account, which had contained $14,000 before his first trip, now had less than $2,000.

But Robert rationalized this, too.

Relationships require investment.

If he was serious about Siri, if he was serious about building a future with her, then money was just a tool to make that happen.

He started researching the Thai visa process, looking into how Siri could visit America, or alternatively, how he could move to Thailand.

He was 52 years old.

He could take early retirement from his telecommunications job.

He could sell his house in Denver, which would give him approximately $180,000 after paying off the mortgage.

He could live in Thailand, where the cost of living was lower.

He could be with Siri permanently instead of these painful separations.

These thoughts consumed him throughout October and November.

He and Siri continued their regular video calls three times per week.

She continued to mention financial problems, sick family members, work difficulties, broken appliances, medical bills.

Robert continued to send money, now approximately $600 to $800 per month.

His credit card debt began to grow.

He opened a new credit card with a $5,000 limit and immediately started using it.

By December 2019, 6 months after his first trip to Thailand, Robert had spent approximately $23,000 on his relationship with Siri.

Airfare, hotels, gifts, and direct money transfers.

His savings was gone.

His retirement account remained untouched, but he had started researching whether he could take an early withdrawal.

His daughter Amy begged him to stop.

Dad, please.

You’re destroying yourself financially.

You barely know this woman.

You’ve spent maybe 3 weeks total with her in person.

This is insane.

Robert refused to listen.

He and Amy had a major fight before Thanksgiving, and Robert decided not to attend the family dinner.

Instead, he video called Siri on Thanksgiving Day, and she sang Happy Thanksgiving to him in broken English.

and he felt loved and appreciated in a way he had not felt in years.

Christmas season arrived and Robert booked his third flight to Thailand.

This time for two weeks over the holidays.

He used his new credit card to pay for the golden $800 airfare.

He told himself this would be a special trip, maybe even the trip where he would propose to Siri.

He bought an engagement ring.

Nothing expensive, just a simple gold band with a small diamond that cost $400.

He could not really afford it, but love required sacrifices.

Flight number three departed Denver on December 20th, 2019.

Robert felt nervous in a different way than previous trips.

He was planning to propose.

He was planning to ask Siri to marry him to start the visa process to build a life together.

When he landed in Phuket, Siri picked him up.

But this time something felt off immediately.

She seemed rushed, distracted.

She said she could only stay for an hour because she had to work an emergency shift at the hotel.

But Robert had flown 8,000 mi to see her.

Could not she take one evening off? She apologized profusely, cried a little, said her boss was threatening to fire her if she did not come in.

Robert was disappointed but understanding.

He checked into his hotel alone, exhausted from the flight and waited for Siri to message him when her shift ended.

She did not message him that night.

The next morning, she sent an apology.

Boss made me work all night.

so sorry I come see you this afternoon.

When she finally arrived at his hotel, she was wearing different clothes than she had worn at the airport.

And Robert noticed she looked tired.

Did you really work all night? He asked.

Yes, very busy.

Christmas time, many tourists.

Can we not talk about work? I miss you so much.

They spent the next two days together, but the magic of the previous trips felt diminished.

Siri seemed preoccupied.

She kept receiving phone calls and text messages that she said were from her family, from her boss, from friends.

Robert suggested they go to a nice restaurant for Christmas Eve dinner so he could propose, but Siri said she had to visit her mother in the village that night and he could not come because it was too far and her family was very traditional.

Robert spent Christmas Eve alone in his hotel room, watching American movies on his laptop, feeling profoundly sad and questioning everything.

On Christmas Day, Siri returned and was more attentive.

They went to the beach, had a nice dinner, and Robert decided this was the moment.

He got down on one knee in front of the ocean at sunset and pulled out the engagement ring.

Siri, I love you.

I want to spend the rest of my life with you.

Will you marry me? Siri looked shocked, her eyes filled with tears, but Robert could not quite read her expression.

“Is this real?” she asked.

“You really want marry me?” “Yes,” Robert said, still on one knee.

“I’ve never been more sure of anything.

” Siri started crying harder.

“Robert, I cannot.

Why not? I love you.

Don’t you love me? I do love you, but I cannot marry you.

Not yet.

Why not? She looked away from him toward the ocean.

Because I’m not ready.

Because I scared.

Because my family would not accept foreigner.

Because my culture is different.

Because I need more time.

Robert felt his heart breaking.

He stood up, the ring still in his hand.

How much more time? Siri wiped her tears.

Maybe 1 year, maybe 2 years.

I need to prepare my family.

I need to save money for wedding.

I need to finish obligations.

Robert’s voice became harder.

What obligations? She hesitated.

I owe money to family to people.

I cannot marry until I pay debts.

How much do you owe? Maybe $10,000.

Maybe more.

Robert felt a terrible sinking feeling in his stomach.

Have I been sending you money to pay off these debts.

No, no, different money, different debts.

You help me with living.

This debt is old from before I met you.

Robert sat down on the beach, the ring still in his hand.

His head was spinning.

Nothing made sense.

If she loved him, why would she not marry him? If she was in debt, why had she not told him before? If her family would not accept a foreigner, why had they been together for 8 months? Siri sat next to him on the sand.

Robert, please understand.

I won’t marry you.

Just not now.

Give me time.

I will be good wife.

I promise.

They sat in silence, watching the sun set completely.

Finally, Robert stood up, brushed sand off his pants, and walked back to the hotel.

Siri followed, apologizing constantly.

That night, they did not sleep together.

Robert said he needed time alone to think.

Siri went back to her own place, wherever that actually was, and Robert lay awake, wondering if Amy had been right all along.

The rest of the trip was strained.

They saw each other every day, but the easy connection from the previous trips was gone.

Robert found himself noticing things he had ignored before.

How evasive Siri was about her personal life.

How she never wanted him to meet her friends or family.

How she always needed money for something.

How she seemed to have two different phones, sometimes three, that rang at different times.

One afternoon, while Siri was in the bathroom, Robert looked at her phone that she had left on the restaurant table.

It was locked, but notifications kept appearing on the screen.

WhatsApp messages in English from someone named Marcus.

Miss you, baby.

Can’t wait to see you in February.

Robert’s blood went cold.

Who was Marcus? The bathroom door opened.

Siri came out and immediately saw Robert holding her phone.

Her face changed.

A flash of fear before she controlled it.

Why you touch my phone? Who is Marcus? Marcus is my cousin.

You’re lying.

I saw the message.

He called you baby.

He said he can’t wait to see you.

Siri grabbed the phone from Robert’s hand.

You have no right to read my private messages.

You lie to me.

I have right to privacy.

Robert stood up, his voice rising.

Are you seeing someone else? Are you scamming me? Other customers in the restaurant started looking at them.

Siri grabbed her purse and walked out quickly.

Robert followed her into the street.

Siri, stop.

Tell me the truth.

We cannot do this here.

We talk later.

When? Tomorrow.

I come to hotel tomorrow.

We talk everything.

But Siri did not come to the hotel the next day.

She sent a text message saying she was sick and needed to rest.

Robert tried calling her, but she did not answer.

He spent the day walking around Fuket alone, his mind racing, feeling increasingly paranoid and angry.

He tried to extend his hotel stay so he could confront Siri properly, but his credit card was declined.

He checked his available credit online and realized he had maxed out the $5,000 limit.

He flew back to Denver on December 30th, 2019 without seeing Siri again, without answers, without closure.

He still had the engagement ring in his carry-on bag, a fallen 400 Lond reminder of his humiliation.

January 2020 began with Robert in complete emotional turmoil.

He and Siri messaged back and forth, but the communication felt different.

She apologized for leaving the restaurant, claimed Marcus really was her cousin, said she had been sick with food poisoning.

But Robert did not believe her anymore.

He started researching romance scams online and found countless stories that sounded eerily similar to his own.

Foreign women on dating sites, requests for money for sick relatives, visits to Thailand, broken promises.

His situation was not unique.

He was not special.

He was a cliche.

The most painful part was accepting his own stupidity.

He had ignored every warning sign.

He had dismissed his daughter’s concerns.

He had isolated himself from friends who questioned the relationship.

He had spent over $26,000 in 8 months on a woman who would not even marry him, who might be seeing other men, who probably lied about everything.

Robert stopped sending Siri money in January.

She messaged him daily asking if everything was okay, saying she missed him, but she never addressed the Marcus situation directly.

Robert’s responses became shorter and colder.

In early February, Siri made a video call that Robert almost did not answer.

When he finally did, she was crying.

Robert, please.

I love you.

I know you angry.

I explain everything if you come back to Thailand.

We talk properly face to face.

I’m not sending you any more money, Siri.

I know what you are.

You’re a scammer.

She cried harder.

No, that not true.

I real my feelings real.

Marcus really my cousin.

I prove to you.

Come back and I prove everything.

Robert felt himself weakening.

Part of him desperately wanted to believe her.

Part of him wanted to book another flight to fix whatever had broken between them.

But another part of him, the rational part he had been ignoring for months, told him to hang up and block her number.

He chose the rational part.

He ended the video call and blocked Siri on WhatsApp, on Facebook, on the dating app.

He blocked her phone number.

He deleted all her messages, all her photos, everything.

He tried to erase her completely from his digital life, even though she remained seared in his memory.

February and March passed in a haze.

Robert fell into depression.

He gained weight.

He stopped socializing.

He spent his evenings alone in his house, drinking beer, watching TV, avoiding his daughter’s calls.

His work performance declined.

His boss called him into the office for a conversation about his recent absences and lack of focus.

Robert lied and said he was dealing with health issues.

In April 2020, the COVID pandemic hit and the world shut down.

Robert worked from home.

He had no reason to leave his house.

The isolation that had driven him to online dating in the first place became his entire existence.

He thought about Siri constantly, wondering if she was real or fake, wondering if he had made a mistake by cutting her off, wondering if he should try to contact her again.

In May, Siri managed to contact him through a different account he had not blocked.

Robert, please talk to me.

I know you think bad things about me, but I love you.

I prove it.

Come back to Thailand when pandemic over.

I wait for you forever.

Robert read the message dozens of times.

Against every ounce of better judgment, against everything he knew to be true, he responded.

I lost a lot of money on you, Siri.

I need to know this is real.

I need proof.

Siri responded immediately.

I know.

I understand.

What proof you need? I give anything.

Robert made an impulsive decision.

If you really love me, you won’t ask me for money anymore.

No more sick relatives.

No more emergencies.

Just us talking without money involved.

Can you do that? Yes.

I promise.

No more money.

Just love.

They started talking again.

The video calls resumed, though less frequently than before.

Maybe twice a week instead of three times.

Siri never asked for money directly, which Robert took as evidence that she was genuine.

What he did not realize was that she had simply adjusted her strategy.

Instead of asking directly, she would mention problems in passing.

My phone so old and slow.

I wish I could afford a new one.

I’m so hungry, but grocery so expensive lately.

My room’s so hot, but I cannot afford air conditioning repair.

She never asked, but the implications were clear.

Robert held firm for 2 months.

He did not send money.

But in July, Siri mentioned that her mother had CO and was in the hospital and the family could not afford the treatment.

Robert broke.

He sent full $200.

Siri cried and thanked him profusely.

Two weeks later, she said her mother had died.

Robert felt terrible guilt that he had not sent more money earlier.

He sent another $1500 daughters for funeral expenses.

What Robert did not know was that Pornip’s mother was alive and healthy, living comfortably in the village on money from her daughter’s scams.

August 2020, Robert made a decision that shocked even himself.

he would go back to Thailand despite the pandemic, despite travel restrictions, despite everything.

He researched the Thai visa process under COVID regulations, found that he could enter if he quarantined for 14 days, booked a flight for September, booked a quarantine hotel in Bangkok, filled out mountains of paperwork.

The trip would cost approximately $4,000 just for airfare and quarantine before he even saw Siri.

He put it on a credit card.

His fourth flight to Thailand departed September 15th, 2020.

Robert spent 2 weeks in quarantine in a Bangkok hotel room, ordering food delivery, watching Thai TV, video calling Siri daily, counting down until he could see her.

She seemed excited and attentive during the calls.

She said she had been crying every day since her mother died.

She said she needed him.

She said when he got to Fuket, everything would be better between them.

On September 29th, Robert took a domestic flight from Bangkok to Phuket.

Siri picked him up at the airport.

They hugged.

She smelled the same.

She looked the same.

Robert felt the same conflicting emotions.

Hope, suspicion, need, anger, love, doubt.

They went to his hotel.

They spent the night together.

The next morning, Robert asked the question he had been holding for 9 months.

Siri, tell me the truth.

Are you seeing other men? Siri looked hurt.

How you can ask that? I only love you.

You saw the message from Marcus.

I explained already that my cousin, he visit Thailand different time than you.

We are family.

Robert wanted to believe her.

The next 10 days followed a familiar pattern.

Beach days, dinners, temples, sex, financial requests.

Siri’s landlord was threatening eviction.

$600.

Siri needed money to finish paying for her mother’s funeral.

$400.

Siri’s motorcycle broke down again, $350.

By the end of the trip, Robert had given Siri $1800 in cash beyond his flights and hotel.

He was now approximately $35,000 into this relationship over 15 months.

On the last night before his return flight, Robert asked Siri again about marriage.

When can we get married? When can we actually start building a life together? Siri gave the same answer as before.

Soon, maybe next year when things more stable.

I need to save money first.

Robert felt a terrible resignation.

This would never end.

She would always have another excuse, another crisis, another reason to delay commitment while continuing to extract money.

But he could not let go.

He was in too deep.

He had invested too much.

Walking away meant admitting he had wasted $35,000 and 18 months on a lie.

Robert’s fifth flight to Thailand happened in December 2020.

Christmas again.

Another attempt to recapture whatever magic he thought had existed in the beginning.

This trip lasted only a week because he could not afford more time off work or more money.

He gave Siri $1,200 during the visit.

She cried and thanked him.

They had sex.

They argued about marriage.

She promised things would be different soon.

Robert flew home feeling emptier than ever.

January 2021, Robert’s financial situation reached a crisis point.

He had maxed out three credit cards totaling $18,000 in debt.

His savings was gone.

He had taken a $15,000 loan against his 400 ROK retirement account.

His house needed repairs he could not afford.

His car was making strange noises he was ignoring.

He was living paycheck to paycheck, constantly stressed about money, but still sending Siri $400 to $600 per month.

Amy confronted him one final time in February 2021.

Dad, I looked at public records.

You took out a second mortgage on your house.

You’re destroying yourself financially for this woman.

Please, please stop.

How do you know about my mortgage? That’s my private business.

Dad, I’m worried about you.

You’ve lost weight.

You look terrible.

All you talk about is Siri.

This isn’t healthy.

Robert felt defensive rage.

You’ve never supported this relationship from the beginning.

You want me to be alone.

That’s not true.

I want you to be happy.

But this woman is making you miserable and broke.

If you really loved me, you’d support my choices.

Amy started crying.

If you really loved yourself, you wouldn’t let her use you like this.

Robert left Amy’s house and did not speak to her for the next 2 months.

The isolation was complete now.

He had pushed away everyone who cared about him.

He had only Siri, who was 8,000 mi away and only available on a screen.

March 2021, Robert booked his sixth flight to Thailand.

He used a new credit card with a $10,000 limit that he had somehow been approved for despite his terrible debt situation.

The flight cost $2,00.

He would stay for nine days.

He told himself this would be the trip where everything finally came together.

Where Siri finally committed, where all his sacrifices paid off.

Flight number six departed March 20th, 2021.

When Robert landed in Fuket, Siri was late to pick him up.

She arrived flustered, making excuses about traffic.

They drove to the hotel, but she said she could not stay that night because she had work early in the morning.

Robert felt suspicious.

He said he would follow her home.

She refused.

They had a massive argument in the hotel parking lot.

Other tourists stared.

Siri drove away crying.

Robert did not hear from her for 2 days.

When she finally contacted him, she said she had been sick and in the hospital.

Robert asked which hospital.

She gave a vague answer.

He asked if he could visit her there.

She said, “No, Thai hospitals do not allow visitors.

” They spent three awkward days together mid-trip.

The chemistry was gone.

The romance was dead.

They barely spoke beyond superficial small talk.

Siri asked for money for hospital bills.

Robert gave her $800.

She asked for money for new work clothes.

Robert gave her $300.

She asked for money for her brother’s school fees.

Robert refused.

She cried.

He felt guilty.

He gave her $200.

On the eighth day of the trip, Robert decided to do something he should have done months earlier.

He hired a private investigator in Thailand to follow Siri and find out the truth.

The investigator’s name was Somchai.

He charged $200 to per day, plus expenses.

Robert gave him all of Siri’s information and agreed to pay for 2 days of surveillance.

Somchi started following Siri the next day.

That night, Somchi sent Robert a series of photos that shattered what remained of Robert’s delusions.

The photos showed Siri meeting a different western man, a white man in his late 50s with gray hair.

They were at a romantic beachfront restaurant.

They were holding hands.

They were kissing.

The man looked completely comfortable with her like this was not their first meeting.

Somchi’s message was simple.

Your girlfriend has another boyfriend.

Many photos.

Want me to continue following? Robert sat in his hotel room staring at the photos, feeling physically ill.

He asked Somchai to send more information about the other man.

Over the next hours, Somchi discovered that the man’s name was Marcus Williams.

He was 56 years old from Atlanta, Georgia.

He had arrived in Thailand 3 days before Robert and was staying at a hotel 15 minutes from Robert’s hotel.

Marcus Williams, the name from the WhatsApp message Robert had seen on Siri’s phone back in December 2019.

Not a cousin, a boyfriend.

Another American man being scammed exactly like Robert.

Robert made an impulsive, ragefueled decision.

He asked Somchai to arrange a meeting with Marcus.

Samchai said he could get Marcus’ hotel information and Robert could go there directly.

Robert said no.

He wanted Somchi to bring Marcus to a coffee shop so they could talk without Siri knowing.

Somchi was confused but agreed.

The next morning, Somchi approached Marcus at his hotel and said he was a private investigator hired by another American man who was also in a relationship with a woman named Sir Porn.

Marcus’s face went pale.

You know Siri? Robert sat in a coffee shop in Patang Beach waiting for Marcus to arrive.

When the older man walked in, escorted by Somchai, Robert felt a strange mixture of emotions.

Anger at Siri, pity for this other victim, embarrassment that they were both in this situation, camaraderie with someone who understood.

Marcus sat down across from Robert.

Both men looked at each other for a long moment.

Finally, Robert spoke.

How long have you been with Siri? 2 years.

I met her online in February 2019.

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