OCEANSIDE, N.Y. (WCBS 880) — A grieving Long Island widow fell victim to a heartless conman who preyed on her vulnerability.
After losing her husband of 45 years in 2019, Connie Rotolo, of Oceanside, turned to an online dating website.
A man from overseas who claimed to be a fellow Long Islander contacted Rotolo, sending her pictures and writing her poems.
Rotolo described it as "like a drug," capable of pulling her "right in with the right things to say."
For three months, Rotolo said he wrote exactly what she needed to hear.
She said she was "vulnerable" because she just lost her husband. Then came the pandemic.
"I lost my husband nine months prior, and we were in lockdown for COVID, and that's your only friend and he's telling you everything in the world," she added.
Eventually came tales of financial troubles and requests for money, which he promised to pay back.
The two never met, but Rotolo wired him about $475,000. It was all a ruse.
"I was very naive to any scam," she said. "I never would think that somebody would hurt somebody else."
She told NBC New York that she is still receiving texts from the scammer, who promises to pay her back.
"Take it easy my love. I'll pay you all I owe you," Rotolo said one of the messages read.
Rotolo also told the outlet that she monitors social media sites in order to prevent other women from becoming victims while Nassau County police investigate.
"I learned from that lesson," she said. "A tough but hard one, but I learned."
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