'My brother has fallen in love with a girl he has never met - I am concerned'

'My brother has fallen in love with a girl he has never met'

My brother has fallen in love with a Thai girl he has never met, and I am alarmed to hear that he intends to bring her to Scotland to set up home.

Whilst my parents and I would love him to find the love of his life, I worry that he is rushing into a relationship with someone he barely knows.

Apparently, they have been messaging and video calling for months, and he admits that he regularly sends money to her, but it is none of my business.

Our elderly parents seem happy for him, but I am genuinely concerned.

The risk of him being scammed is extremely high.

Scammers often have family emergencies, sick grannies, expensive hospital bills, and, of course, a broken phone or laptop, which obviously, if he doesn’t pay for a new one, he loses contact with the love of his life.

Talk of building a future together early on is typical bait, as this will be the glue that cements their relationship.

Marriage and moving to his homeland are the icing on the cake.

Ask if you could sit in on a video call to ‘meet’ your potential sister-in-law; after all, she is going to be part of the family.

However, scammers often lie about their camera being broken or having a bad internet connection, so the likelihood is that it won’t happen.

All these things reflect the situation your brother is in, but convincing him that their relationship is fake is another matter.

Ask what would happen if he doesn’t send money, what the money is for, and whether he sees receipts?

Try to get a photo of her and run it through Google Lens.

Build your evidence and take it from there.

Typically, this won’t be an overnight fix, but keep the chat open with him, watch and learn, and be there when the penny drops.

I’ve been trying to get rid of this wee burd for ages now, but she won’t take the hint.

If she is in the pub and I’ve had a few drinks, I sleep with her, but that doesn’t make me her boyfriend, and I’ve told her that.

She’s not my type, I don’t fancy her, and never will, so how do I get shot of her?

Gosh, you’re such a catch.

I can see why this poor lass is besotted with you.

You don’t fancy her, yet it’s Ok to use her for your own sexual gratification (needs), in case that big word is too much for you to understand.

This is not a difficult relationship to end, because it hasn’t started.

It’s one-sided and cruel.

Next time you come across this lass, tell her you are not sleeping with her again and that she deserves better.

Wish her well and walk away.

That’s the decent thing to do, and you never know … you just might feel proud of yourself for doing so.

Got a question for our agony aunt?

Email askjanice@glasgowtimes.co.uk.

Get involved with the news


© Glasgow Times