Hyannis man charged in Internet scamSuspect allegedly romances a Virginia woman and gets caught in a web of lies.By DAVID KIBBETIMES BOSTON BUREAUBOSTON - A married, unemployed Hyannis man has been accused by federal authorities of romancing a Virginia woman over the Internet and defrauding her of more than $176,000 through a series of tall tales, including stories that he was captured or missing in Iraq. Rob Mailloux of Hyannis allegedly claimed that he lived in a $1 million home. His house, above, is appraised at $292,000. (Staff photo by ROB SCHLOERB) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In one instance, Rob Mailloux, 50, of 135 Pitcher's Way, posed as his mother and sent the woman an e-mail saying he had been killed in action in Iraq, according to a federal indictment."In fact, defendant Mailloux was in the United States during this time," the indictment said.Mailloux also allegedly claimed that he lived in a $1 million home and had a computer programming business with 15 employees, which the indictment said was not true. The indictment described him as a "man with very limited financial means."Mailloux was arrested at his home yesterday and led into U.S. District Court in Boston with his hands cuffed behind his back for an initial appearance before Magistrate Judge Marianne Bowler.Mailloux, who told the judge he had served in the Marine Corps, wore glasses and appeared disheveled in faded blue jeans and a gray T-shirt. His lawyer, Jeffrey Higgins, of Chelmsford, told the judge that Mailloux had not taken his medication, including Xanax, an anti-anxiety drug, since the previous day and may have been confused. After the hearing, Mailloux could not stop his hands from trembling.He was held without bail pending an agreement between Higgins and Assistant U.S. Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz on the conditions of his release. He could appear in court as soon as today for a determination on bail."He does pose a serious risk of flight," Ortiz alleged.Higgins argued unsuccessfully for his immediate release.Mailloux said he lives with his wife and two stepchildren. Higgins declined comment on the case yesterday before huddling with Mailloux's wife in a courthouse hallway. Higgins told the judge Mailloux's wife was willing to put up her home as collateral for bail.Mailloux is charged with eight counts of wire fraud. Each count carries a maximum prison term of 20 years and a $250,000 fine, plus restitution.He was arrested by Postal Inspector J.P. Kleinberg following an investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and Detective John Fallon of the Yarmouth Police Department.The indictment said the Virginia woman, who was identified in court papers only as "Ms. H," contacted Mailloux after seeing a profile he posted on matchmaker.com, an on-line dating service. Federal authorities said Mailloux wooed the woman over the Internet and the telephone, and at various times posed as his mother and a nephew in e-mails to confirm his romantic interest and ask for money.Mailloux falsely told the woman he owned a company that developed computer programs, and his company was being sued, and all his assets had been frozen, according to the indictment.Federal authorities say he told the woman he would pay her back once the lawsuit was over, but he kept saying the case had been delayed. He allegedly told her he needed money for business expenses, his mortgage and legal fees for the court case.According to the indictment, he induced the woman to wire him $2,132 to buy a laptop computer for his non-existent business; send him her L.L. Bean credit card, which he used to make more than $82,000 in purchases and withdrawals; and wire him more than $45,000 from her Paine Webber Individual Retirement Account.The indictment said he used her credit card to withdraw more than $2,000 at Mohegan Sun casino on the pretense of paying his lawyer for the story he concocted about his business being sued.He allegedly defrauded her of more than $176,000 from November 2002 to June 2003."Defendant Mailloux falsely represented to Ms. H. that he never gambled and that he only visited the casino because it did not require a Personal Identification Number for credit card cash withdrawals," the indictment said. "In fact, as defendant Mailloux well knew, he gambled regularly and had no attorney handling his 'lawsuit.'Prosecutors said Mailloux promised to make her a partner and bookkeeper in the non-existent company.When he failed to meet her as planned in Virginia, he allegedly sent an e-mail, posing as his mother, falsely claiming he was attacked and stabbed by gang members along the way and had his laptop stolen. He asked the woman for more money to replace the computer, according to the indictment.Federal authorities said his tall tales continued to grow as he tried to avoid seeing the woman. He e-mailed that he had been called to the Pentagon to work on computer operations and was sent overseas, which the indictment said was false.Posing as his mother and nephew, he continued to ask the woman for money for home and business expenses, the indictment alleges."It was further part of the scheme that on or about May 29, 2003, defendant Mailloux, falsely purporting to be (his mother), falsely represented to Ms. H that defendant Mailloux was missing in Iraq, and on or about June 8, 2003, falsely represented that defendant Mailloux's status was shifting from 'killed in action' to 'missing in action' to 'prisoner of war,' while in fact defendant Mailloux was in the United States during this time," the indictment said.Neighbors in Mailloux's tidy Hyannis neighborhood yesterday said they were surprised to learn of the allegations against him."He's been a good neighbor," said Bill Chapman, who's known Mailloux for about two years. "He seemed like a nice guy."Mailloux is an ex-Marine who told his neighbor he won a purple heart. According to the indictment, Mailloux told Ms. H that he won two such medals in Iraq, but prosecutors said this is untrue.Chapman and other neighbors said Mailloux lives with his wife and two children described in court yesterday as his step-children.Several neighbors raved about Mailloux's wife."She's a lovely neighbor," one woman said yesterday. "She's a dear mother, and I'll keep saying that."Among Mailloux's litany of alleged lies was a claim that he owns a $1 million house.However, the small, two-story Hyannis home with black shutters and twin dormers is appraised at about $292,000, according to Barnstable town records. The house is owned by his wife.Yesterday, Mailloux told Bowler he has been unemployed since he was released from the military. He said he attended Dennis-Yarmouth High School but dropped out shortly before grduation and joined the Marine Corps.Higgins, his lawyer, said Mailloux joined the Marines in 1972 and spent 17 years in the service. He was assigned in 1980 to be a military recruiter on the Cape. Higgins said his client was on disability for a period of time and wasn't on active duty.
Originally posted by ASTAC I don't know whicjh is worse...his terrible lies about service in Iraq....or the poor dumb woman that believed him and stupidly gave him the money...isn't the in-tard-net a great thing?I'm gonna have to work on a good scam now.
Originally posted by Gunslinger might I sudgest you target your efforts at Sears.
