Several years ago a fellow at work tried his hand at international romance. He was in his mid 40's at the time, financially comfortable yet socially awkward. He had never been married, never had a serious girlfriend yet wanted a relationship badly. Somehow he got hooked up online with a woman in the Philippines and began a 6 month or so long distance courtship which eventually advanced to the point he asked her to come to the US and marry him. He sent her $3500 for travel expenses.....and she disappeared!