SNS型投資詐欺:ニュージャージー州在住の男性に届いた見知らぬ相手からのメッセージが、彼の人生の破滅へと導いた

Social media investment scam: A message from a stranger that a New Jersey man received led to his life being ruined.

Social media investment scam: A message from a stranger that a New Jersey man received led to his life being ruined.
自己のフェイスブックにある日、見知らぬ相手から親し気なメッセージが届いた

One day, I received a friendly message from a stranger on my Facebook page.

One day, I received a friendly message from a stranger on my Facebook page.
まさかこれが人生を破滅させる悪夢の始まりになるとは、この時は思いもしなかった――

At that time, I never imagined that this would be the beginning of a nightmare that would ruin my life.

At that time, I never imagined that this would be the beginning of a nightmare that would ruin my life.
SNS投資詐欺の被害に遭った男性が、自分のような状況にある人を助けたいとの思いからCNNの取材に応じ、全財産を失うに至った詳しい経緯や、相手と交わしたやり取りの一部始終を明らかにした

A man who fell victim to a social media investment scam, wanting to help others in his situation, agreed to an interview with CNN and revealed the details of how he lost all his assets and the entire conversation he had with the victim.

A man who fell victim to a social media investment scam, wanting to help others in his situation, agreed to an interview with CNN and revealed the details of how he lost all his assets and the entire conversation he had with the victim.
米ニュージャージー州ウォリントンに住むジョー・ノバックさん(52)に見知らぬ相手からメッセージが届いたのは、昨年10月のことだった

Joe Novak, 52, of Warrington, New Jersey, received a message from an unknown person last October.

Joe Novak, 52, of Warrington, New Jersey, received a message from an unknown person last October.
「知り合いではありませんが、FBでおすすめの友達に表示されて、あなたを追加しました

"I don't know anyone, but I added you because I saw you as a recommended friend on FB"

"I don't know anyone, but I added you because I saw you as a recommended friend on FB"
ご迷惑でなければいいのですが」「…息子さんについての投稿はとても心温まる内容でした

I hope I don't cause any trouble.'' ``...Your post about your son was very heartwarming.

I hope I don't cause any trouble.'' ``...Your post about your son was very heartwarming.
私たちはつながることができるかもしれません」ノバックさんはこの3カ月前に自身のフェイスブックで、病気の息子が安全に食べられるファストフードが少ないことを嘆く投稿を公開していた

Maybe we can connect.'' Novak published a post on her Facebook page three months ago lamenting the lack of safe fast food for her sick son.

Maybe we can connect.'' Novak published a post on her Facebook page three months ago lamenting the lack of safe fast food for her sick son.
メッセージに悪意はなさそうだった

The message didn't seem malicious.

The message didn't seem malicious.
プロフィールに表示されていたのはアイリス・ダナーというほっそりとした金髪の女性

The profile displayed was a slender blonde woman named Iris Danner.

The profile displayed was a slender blonde woman named Iris Danner.
ニューヨーク市の高級ショッピング街、マディソン・アベニューで働くファッションデザイナーと自己紹介していた

He introduced himself as a fashion designer who works on Madison Avenue, an upscale shopping district in New York City.

He introduced himself as a fashion designer who works on Madison Avenue, an upscale shopping district in New York City.
2人はメッセージのやり取りを始め、彼女に勧められて「フェイスブックメッセンジャー」からメッセージアプリ「ワッツアップ」に切り替えた

The two started exchanging messages, and at his girlfriend's urging, he switched from Facebook Messenger to the messaging app WhatsApp.

The two started exchanging messages, and at his girlfriend's urging, he switched from Facebook Messenger to the messaging app WhatsApp.
2人の関係は徐々に親密になっていった

The relationship between the two gradually became closer.

The relationship between the two gradually became closer.
ノバックさんは数カ月前、テレマーケティング会社のIT担当副社長の職を失い、離婚協議と2人の子どもの親権争いの真っ最中だった

Novak lost her job as vice president of IT at a telemarketing company a few months ago and was in the middle of a divorce and custody battle for her two children.

Novak lost her job as vice president of IT at a telemarketing company a few months ago and was in the middle of a divorce and custody battle for her two children.
彼女はファッションデザイナーとして世界中を飛び回っていると語り、ノバックさんと同じように自分も離婚経験があると言った

She said she travels all over the world as a fashion designer, and like Novak, she also went through a divorce.

She said she travels all over the world as a fashion designer, and like Novak, she also went through a divorce.
流産で子どもを亡くしたという打ち明け話もして、ノバックさんの子どもに対する献身ぶりをたたえた

She also confessed that she lost her child to a miscarriage and praised her dedication to her child.

She also confessed that she lost her child to a miscarriage and praised her dedication to her child.
2月までに2人は互いに愛を告白した

By February, the two had confessed their love to each other.

By February, the two had confessed their love to each other.
4月までにはノバックさんが、ほぼ全財産に相当する28万ドル(約4360万円)を、彼女に勧められた投資サイトに注ぎ込んだ

By April, Mr. Novak had poured nearly his entire fortune, about $280,000, into an investment site recommended to him by his girlfriend.

By April, Mr. Novak had poured nearly his entire fortune, about $280,000, into an investment site recommended to him by his girlfriend.
その彼女と彼女のフェイスブックのプロフィルが消えたのは、それから間もなくのことだった

It was not long after that that she and her Facebook profile disappeared.

It was not long after that that she and her Facebook profile disappeared.