I really felt sad for my seatmate, who was engaged in a frenzied WhatsApp conversation on a flight up the California coast with his “girlfriend” that was impossible for me to avoid and left me very thankful that I am out of the dating game…
My Seatmate’s WhatsApp Romance Drama Screamed Scam
This was on a flight from Southern California to San Francisco on an Airbus A320 jet, with 3-3 seating in economy class (my upgrade did not clear and his did not either). We were seated in the exit row and the middle seat between us was open.
As I settled into my seat, the man was already seated and had quaffed down a Buffalo Trace Bourbon mini…it wasn’t clear (yet) if he brought it onboard or a flight attendant gave it to him, but he did have a blue plastic United cup with some ice in it.
This man looked to be around 75 years old, but was doing to his best to look youthful, with his hair dyed a jet black color. It was also clear that he had cosmetic work done…I just don’t understand why people inject fillers into face, but that’s certainly his prerogative. He was wearing a dark suit with an open collar and had several rings on his finger.
He was holding his phone out in front of me and typing furiously. I don’t make a habit of reading other people’s messages, but it virtually impossible to avoid doing so here by the way he angled the phone, placing it directly into my line of sight.
He was boasting about how great his tongue game was…and well, you get the idea.
All of a sudden he slammed his fist down on the armrest. I was looking out the window but turned back and saw that his “girlfriend” had sent him a demand. “Did you bring my gift?” as he asked.
He assured her that he would be bringing her the Prada bag she wanted.
The chatting continued via WhatsApp, but I turned away to focus on my work.
As the flight progressed, he pulled himself out another bourbon mini from his bag and poured it himself. During the beverage service, he ordered a Stella Artois beer. Odd mix, no?
I could tell he was upset about something and he neared SFO I looked over again at his phone and saw they were arguing about her gift. She said she no longer wanted the Prada bag and wanted an iPhone 17 Pro Max instead. And that he should mail it to her.
The guy was pleading with her to meet in San Francisco, as planned.
Do I tell him that “Jasmine” is probably not even a real woman? That “she” is more likely a fat dude in his mother’s basement trying to scam him?
He was upset…so upset that he pulled out another bourbon from his bag and downed it.
I was so divided. Try to talk to talk to him or let him be, especially because he was either drunk or close to drunk?
He was so busy going back and forth on his phone that I left him alone.
Maybe this guy enjoys this torture or considers the price worthwhile to get a girl that is 45-50 years younger than he is. Different strokes…I’m just thankful I have a relatively stable life with a loving wife and children…and I just hope he goes into these encounters with his eyes wide open because the entire conversation screamed out SCAM to me.
As we got up, I told him, “Best wishes, pal. Be careful out there.” He looked at me and smiled, shaking his head slightly but saying nothing before looking back down at his phone.
I have an acquaintance who’s being fleeced by a woman in Thailand. She’s real, he travels there every few months to see her, but she’s obviously a grifter. His friends are dismayed; a mutual friend has told him what everyone thinks, but he refuses to see. My take on the matter is that people have said their piece, and it’s up to him to take action. He’s a grown man in his 60s, not a kid who needs to be protevted from a predatory adult. Sometimes we just have to walk away…
I mean, at least he’s going to Thailand; the crab curry and mango sticky rice alone is worth the trip! (Besides, Suvarnabhumi has so many decent lounges!)
I just looked it up and see there is an AARP Fraud Victims Support Group online. Just hope a scammer won’t also join.
“quaffed down a Buffalo Trace Bourbon” … well, at least he’s a gentleman. Bah!
“tongue game” … oh, my word!
Were you flying Aer Lingus? *nudge nudge*
The young woman in the photo accompanying this article is truly captivating. It’s a fact that, looking out the window of the plane she’s traveling on, she’s not thinking about life’s tragedies [lost/unrequited love, malignant disease(s), premature old age…]. By the way, for those who might be interested, here’s a short travel poem from me↓
While gazing at the skies, she asked the air travel with her eyes,
“How do you manage to stay so young all the time?”
“By constantly renewing myself, oh brainy beauty” the air travel replied.
©Güntürk Üstün (2026)
“Aging Playboy”? At 75, I think that train left the station a couple of decades ago although it’s kind of you to couch things in such terms.
Men who are fit (mentally and physically) and who don’t vainlt fight the aging process find their attractiveness to younger woman surprisingly strong. If you are much younger, just wait. If you’re near that age and don’t find younger woman attracted to you, that’s your failure. Of course, the guy described sounds like he’s making very wrong moves.
(Yeah, keep telling yourself that… maybe in Ohio… but not NYC or LA…)
This interesting article suddenly reminded me of the 2019 French mystery and thriller film “Seules Les Bêtes (Only The Animals)”…
>I’m just thankful I have a relatedly stable life with a loving wife and children…
For now, and probably for near future, but you never know if you find yourself in a same shoe as this guy when you turn to 75.
He’s 75, let him spend his money however he wants. IF he has kids they deserve nothing. Let him enjoy the time he has left, it’s later than you think.
I don’t think anyone here wants to reign in his parade. But, Matthew (and me, too) is worried about him flushing money down a toilet and regretting it later. I have no problem with a sugar daddy relationship. It’s not for me, but if the guy is happy and has no regrets when it ends, more power to him. If that relationship is one-sided and he feels used after it ends, that’s sad. I wish that on no one not currently living in the White House.
“A fool and his money are quickly separated.” -Benjamin Franklin
Attractive men are intelligent, confident and humorous at any age. Be that guy and genuine happiness will find you.
Ignore the alley cats that only want to date your wallet
I feel bad for him. I have heard of this scam and it’s always them wanting the latest iphone because they’re extremely expensive and easy to trade/cash in Thailand.
It’s like Jack Reacher (Tom Cruise) version said in the film: “If you’re not a prostitute, then I absolutely cannot afford you.”
That said, sometimes I like to tease and play the scammers. He should have said he sent it and instead sent a blank FedEx envelope but put a used iPhone 5 inside of it making it look like a mistake from the shipper. Oh, and have it locked.
That said, one of the great things about having travelled is I know… er, the scams, stories, and er, alternatives to being scammed in bad relationships…