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They say a picture says 1,000 words. Well, it says a couple thousand dollars

A West Allis man lost thousands of dollars before WISN 12 News was able to uncover the truth behind a dating trap that originated halfway around the world.

More people than ever are looking for love online through Internet dating sites.

“I heard a lot about Web sites and stuff, and I just wanted to try one once, so I figured why not?” online dating victim Dale Bell said.

It was Bell’s first venture into the world of online dating. One site found him who he thought was the girl of his dreams.

“When I found her, she was actually the one that I never thought in my life would ever e-mail me back, and she was the first,” Bell said.

Her name is Oladele, a former New Yorker who lived in Nigeria. She sent these pictures to Bell along with several months’ worth of romantic e-mails.

That was when Bell started sending something to her.

“$162, $318, $954. What was that for?” WISN 12 News investigative reporter Wainscott asked.

“At first, she said she only needed $700, I figured OK I’ll send you the plane ticket,” Bell said. “And then, she e-mailed me back, and the airport told her that she needed the basic traveling allowance, the BTA, which was $450.”

She kept asking for cash, and he kept sending it, on the promise that Oladele was coming to Milwaukee to be with him. She would even call him and leave phone messages.

Soon, Bell had sent more than $3,000 to the woman he never met, and there was still no sign of her.

“She was supposed to be here now, four days ago now, and still has never shown up. So she got away with getting about $3,000 from me,” Bell said.

He became suspicious of the photos of the woman he thought he was falling in love with.

“She posts these pictures. Do you think this is really her picture?” Wainscott asked.

“You know, I’d like it to be and stuff, but there’s really no way to tell, really,” Bell said.

Well, actually there is a way. WISN 12 News has found that the photos supposedly of Bell’s love match, Oladele, are actually of a Hawaiian model named Nicole.

Her modeling agency said photos of many its models have been lifted, stolen, from the company’s Web site, and are being used by con artists luring victims into scams through online dating sites.

WISN 12 News has also learned that people across the country have been targeted by what’s now become widely known as the Nigerian dating scam. Federal investigators have issued warnings about it.

“You feel as though as you’ve been taken advantage at this point?” Wainscott asked.

“Yes, yes I do,” Bell said.

For Bell, the hurt runs deep. He’s out thousands of dollars, and his dream of a picture-perfect romance is shattered.

“They say a picture says 1,000 words. Well, it says a couple thousand dollars,” Bell said.

The FBI told Wainscott this is the first case of this scheme it’s seen in Wisconsin, but the agency’s Internet crime center said it has had reports from across the country, and it said many victims never report it.

The dating Web sites themselves are not connected to the con artists, and many actually police their own sites to make sure the crooks don’t get through.

Bell is still fighting off the con artist, who keeps trying to get his money.

When Wainscott told him what 12 News had found, he wrote and confronted her with the information.

She tried to convince him that what 12 News uncovered was a lie, that it really is her photo, and that she’s still planning to come to Milwaukee.

Bell just wants everyone to be on guard.

Many of the biggest fraudulent schemes in the world originate in Nigeria, but in the case of this one, investigators said it may also have roots in Russia and other countries.