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| Convinced: Sarah told Dr Phil she still believes in love. |
Sarah met Chris Olsen online 18 months ago and since then she sent him an enormous sum of money to help him come home so they can be together. The mysterious man told her that he moved from Italy to the United States 18 years ago but now in Africa on business. The man is said to be detained on false charges and keeps asking her for money so that he can come home so they can be together.
"An attractive person came on there and said 'you look like you wouldn't hurt a fly'," she told the Dr Phil Show.
"I thought 'wow, this guy is really handsome, I can't believe he's talking to me.' Chris has a way with words. He'll say 'how is my queen doing today'
"He's very poetic when he talks to me. He writes 'Mrs Olsen, I love you and I cant wait to be with you'."
The only problem is, the pair have never been able to meet in person.
Chris, who told Sarah he is a widower with two daughters, says he had been in South Africa for business purposes.
After a brief stint in Nigeria, he is now stuck in Benin, West Africa, after getting in "trouble" with the government, Sarah says.
Over the course of their relationship, Sarah has sent $1.4 million in total to Chris for problems including stolen cards, calling cards, hotel bills, lawyers, a nanny and when his visa expired.
On one occasion, Chris said he had been imprisoned on false charges of money laundering.
Sarah sold an apartment she owned and sent him more than half a million dollars to get him out of jail.
She says Chris has made "five or six" attempts to leave Africa for the US, but each time is thrown back in jail.
Sarah adds that Chris' accent appears to have changed in the time they have been talking.
"When I first started talking to him," she told Dr Phil.
"He sounded Italian, now his accent's kind of changed I don't know if he's adapted to where he's at... in Benin."
However, Sarah says she believes Chris' stories are legitimate.
"I have questioned several times whether or not this is a scam. But I'm 95% certain that Chris is telling me the truth. I still believe in love."
- via Mirror& MailOnline