My disabled sister is being emotionally manipulated by online scammers pretending to be celebrities — we don’t know how to help her without breaking her trust
Hi everyone,
I’m posting here because my family is in a really difficult situation and we don’t know the best way to handle it.
My sister is 42 and has Down’s syndrome. She’s always been very kind, trusting, and quite vulnerable socially. About two years ago, she was contacted online by someone claiming to be one of the Dobre Brothers. She was incredibly excited and believed it was real.
Over time, more accounts appeared, all claiming to be different members of the same family. They built up a “friendship” with her — messaging her regularly, giving her attention, and making her feel special.
Gradually, the conversations shifted. They started asking for money. At first it was small amounts, but over time it’s become a daily thing. She now sends money almost every day.
What’s really worrying is how much this has taken over her life. She’s constantly checking her phone, waiting for messages from them, and prioritising them over everything else. It feels almost like a dependency or a cult-like situation where they’ve become central to her emotional world.
My parents have only recently realised how serious this has become, and we all agree something needs to be done. But the challenge is how.
If we confront her too strongly or just block everything, we risk:
- Breaking her trust in us
- Causing distress or confusion
- Pushing her further toward these scammers emotionally
But if we don’t act, she’ll continue to be financially and emotionally exploited.
We’re trying to find a way to:
- Help her understand she’s being scammed (without making her feel stupid or ashamed)
- Reduce and stop the financial damage
- Gently break the emotional hold these people have on her
- Support her in a way that keeps our relationship with her strong
Has anyone dealt with something similar, especially involving a vulnerable adult?
We’d really appreciate any advice — whether it’s practical steps, ways to approach the conversation, or organisations that could help.
Thanks for reading.