INDIANAPOLIS (WTHR) — After two years of talking to someone online, Janice Adam realized something wasn't right.
After some investigating, Adam realized the man she thought she was speaking to was actually using someone else's photos — that person was WTHR's Scott Swan.
Adam reached out to Swan to tell him about what she had gone through in the past two years with a man who called himself "James," including developing romantic feelings and sending him money and other gifts.
Adam shared "James'" phone number with Swan who decided to call the scammer.
The man hung up several times.
Here is a transcript of the conversation.
First call:
Scott: Is James there?
"James": Yeah. You're talking to James. Yes, you're talking to James. What's the problem?
Scott: Do you know Janice Adam?
"James": What about Janice Adam? What happened? What happened to her?
Scott: Do you know who I am? This is Scott Swan from Indianapolis. Janice Adam said you stole my Facebook pictures and scammed her out of thousands of dollars. Did you do that?
"James": What did she say? She said you should talk to me?
Scott: Janice said you stole my Facebook pictures, you created a Facebook page and convinced her to send you thousands of dollars. Did you do that? James, did you steal my Facebook pictures?
"James": No, not me. Hangs up
Second call:
Scott: Hello James.
"James": Hello Janice? Where's Janice?
Scott: Do you know Janice Adam?
"James": I said where's Janice? If you don't want to tell me where Janice is, don't call me.
Scott: She lives in Oklahoma. I live in Indiana. You're the man who stole my Facebook pictures.
"James": Listen to me. Listen.
Scott: I'm listening. Are you going to talk to me? I know you're still there.
"James": So why would you call me and tell me who Janice Adam is?
Scott: Janice is the one who gave me your phone number. Janice says you're the man who stole my Facebook pictures.
"James": Hangs up.
Third call:
Scott: Can you hear me?
"James": What do you want from me?
Scott: Can you answer my question?
"James": No I can't.
Scott: "I'm trying to identify myself. Do you know Janice Adam.
"James": Yeah, I know Janice Adam. What happened?
Scott: Janice says you stole my Facebook pictures and scammed her out of thousands of dollars. Why did you do that?
"James": Why did I do what?
Scott: Why did you take my Facebook photos and create a Facebook account and get Janice to send you thousands of dollars? Why did you do that?
"James": Why don't you ask Janice about that?
Scott: She told me why you did it. I want to hear from you.
"James": You're just being lousy. You don't know what happened. You're just going around calling people and asking people about their personal lives. Listen to me. You're talking about Janice gave you my number. Janice doesn't know what she's saying and actually gave you my number. So what are you going to say?
Scott: "I want to know why did you steal my Facebook photos and get her to send you thousands of dollars? You became friends with Janice on Facebook. Did you not?
"James": Why are you asking me all these questions? You're asking me too much questions. Do you want to go call the FBI on me?
Scott: I'm not calling the FBI. I wanted to ask you to confirm what Janice is telling me.
"James": You're trying to interrogate me?
Scott: Do you know the pictures you were using to talk to Janice?
"James": I don't care. I don't know. I don't know whose photos (unintelligible). I don't understand.
Scott: The pictures that you used to talk to Janice were of me. Those were my pictures. You tried to pretend you were me.
"James": You're asking Janice what transpired.
Scott: Janice has already told me everything.
"James": That's crap. I don't pretend. So why can't you marry Janice?
Scott: I'm a TV reporter in Indiana.
"James": You don't tell me (expletive).
Scott: I'm answering your questions.
"James": You're telling me and asking me stupid questions.
Scott: No, no, no.
"James": Listen. That's what you said. You called me and ask me why did I do this. Why did I take your picture and scam Janice, and why did I do that. And now I'm telling you - did you ask Janice about what happened? She has been ungrateful. Janice has been ungrateful.
Scott: Janice has been ungrateful? You were the one who took money from her.
"James": Did Janice ever tell you she was going to die? Did she tell you?
Scott: Janice told me that you were making up stories about who you were and why you were in Nigeria. You were sending her photos of me, pretending to be somebody else and getting her to send you money.
"James": Listen to me.
Scott: Are you denying any of this?
"James": No. Janice was actually sick. So I got to help her out.
Scott: Yeah, how did you help her out?
"James": I've been a friend trying to help her out. Trying to be in the best place I can. Trying to talk to her every time I can. She knows I'm a very nice guy. She knows that. She shouldn't have you my number or for me to talk to me or report me to the FBI.
Scott: She's not reporting you to the FBI. She called the guy that you were sending photos of. I'm the guy you were sending photos of. I'm that white haired guy. Every photo you sent to Janice was of me.
"James": Scott Swan.
Scott: That's right.
"James": Scott Swan.
Scott: That's right. Those were my photos. You were pretending to be someone else.
"James": Listen to me. I know everything about you. Can you understand me?
Scott: Yes.
"James": I know everything about you, so you need to calm down.
Scott: Okay. So you know everything about me?
"James": Yeah.
Scott: Right. And now my audience is going to know all about you. Why did you prey on Janice and scam her out of thousands of dollars. She says you admitted doing all of this. She sent you $5,000 cash and $10,000 in gift cards. She said you pretended to be sick and sent pictures of me in the hospital saying that was you in the hospital. And, you're calling yourself a nice guy?
"James": (silence)
Scott: C'mon. Don't go away. Don't hide. Talk to me. I'm giving you a chance to tell me what you did. Because Janice has already told me what you did. So c'mon.
"James": (silence)
Scott: You're going away? You're not answering any questions? You've got her money. That's all you need.
"James": Hangs up.
