TL;DR: ABC News reported on March 24, 2026 that Tahina Leach's grandmother, who turns 80 this year, believes she is close to Ecuadorian pan flute player Raimy Salazar after a fake fan page contacted her on Facebook. She pays “thousands of dollars” through Apple gift cards, “her whole pension”, and also sold her car and took out small loans. The family cannot convince her.
What happened
ABC News reports that a “Raimy Salazar official fan page” contacted Tahina Leach's grandmother on Facebook, then moved the conversation to an encrypted messaging app. Over the past few months, the person has asked her for thousands of dollars, paid through Apple gift cards, saying the money funds his music and his survival. Ms Leach says the payments are “a substantial amount of money each fortnight, her whole pension”. Her grandmother also sold her car and took out small personal loans. The article gives no exact dollar totals.
Why the family cannot get through
- The family showed evidence suggesting the man is part of a scam, but could not convince her.
- They hired a private romance scam investigator, which also failed.
- Ms Leach said: “It's just hard because nan doesn't want to listen to me, of all people, let alone anyone else.”
What experts say
Trish Blake, WA Commissioner for Consumer Protection, said scammers “are some of the best behavioural scientists in the world”. They build trust, flatter the victim, and say family will not understand the relationship, before asking for money. She said ScamNet staff are often asked to talk to likely victims and that persuading them “takes persistence, patience, a lot of love, and a lot of hope”.
What families can do, per the article
- Contact ScamNet for help with a family member who may be scammed.
- Tell the person's bank, so staff can question large or unusual withdrawals.
- Remember that Apple gift card retailers are covered by a national code of practice requiring staff to ask about large purchases of cards.
The report notes that scammers prefer gift cards because the funds cannot be traced. Read our gift card scam recovery guide, how to protect elderly parents and romance scam red flags. Report to Scamwatch and run our free email exposure check for yourself or a parent.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did the fake fan page ask for?
Thousands of dollars through Apple gift cards, saying the money funds his music and his survival.
Why can the family not convince her?
She believes she is close to the musician. Evidence and a private investigator did not change her mind.
Who can families contact in WA?
ScamNet, and the person's bank, which can question large or unusual withdrawals.
Why do scammers prefer gift cards?
The funds cannot be traced, according to the article.
Sources
- ABC News: Family members stuck when loved ones fall for online romance scams (Mar 24, 2026)
- Scamwatch (National Anti-Scam Centre)