This number is one that a friend was given for a Michael L. Pruitt.  Supposedly lived in Los Angeles, was awarded a contract to build a shopping center in Malaysia, but his equipment was taken by customs officials, etc. etc.  Sends flowers and gifts.  Wants to come back to the states to marry her.  Never met in person, but on Match.com.  Waiting to see if he asks for money.

213-443-6143 Ladies beware it is a scam and nothing more.   All the love letters are phony, he plays
you until he can persuade you to send him money.  Same post as before he is building a shopping
center over seas, and the customs officials have taken his equipment, needs money.  Calls, and sends
e-mails, says he is returning to the states to marry the poor foolish lady who believes him.

He uses several different names, Michael L Pruitt, Michael Truit, Alexander Gallagher, just to name
a few.  He is dangerous.  Claims he has a 4BR 2BA house in LA, California which is also bogus
His e-mail is micktruit@aol.com

DO NOT SEND ANY MONEY

213-443-6143  Other  information here is correct.  Also said he has a daughter named Diane, 19 years old, studying  computer technology at the University of Texas.  He sends a picture of her.  He asked me to send her emergency cash to her on Thanksgiving. Also says the Malaysian Tax Authority have impounded his equipment and passport until he pays taxes.  The supposed company he is supposed to have a contract with is Tesco.  

There's a period between his first and last e-mail name, and a double t , so his email address is mick.truitt@aol.com  

Every romance scammer story follows the same basic plot:
1) Develop a character with an almost plausible background which victims cannot verify.
2) Fall madly in love with the victim sight unseen and far too quickly.
3) Encounter some great crisis which prevents meeting in person.
4) Beg and wheedle for money to correct the purported problem.
5) Create another problem or excuse preventing a meeting in person.
6) Continue begging for money and inventing more drama until the victim gets wise or goes broke.

Some like the crook playing "Pruitt" will embellish Step #1 so that the character seems to be a wealthy globe-hopper, but of course is not wealthy enough to bail out her-or-himself. This sets an impression that crying poverty is an anomaly and would not occur except that you and the pseudo-great catch are such pals. I recall a female character who breezily claimed to fly her own private plane, and would just happen to stopping at whatever city name was appropriate to the victim.

FTC Warns Consumers About Online Dating Scams
http://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases ... ne-dating-scams

other FTC items discussing online dating
http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/taxonomy/term/1127

Online Dating Scams
http://www.onguardonline.gov/articles/0004-online-dating-scams

Romance scams bloom around Valentine's Day
http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/personalf ... es-day/1891355/