Hello BurnedBad and welcome back to R.S.
I am deeply sorry that you had fallen into the web that is a romance scammers trap. But at the same time I am also very glad that you have finally broken free of the spell of deceit and manipulation that they had you under. From your post it is clear that on your previous visit you were still struggling with the internal battle between your brain and your heart. Your brain was asking questions that your heart was not ready to listen to because it truly believed your special someone was real and someone who could never hurt you. However now you are seeing more clearly. You now see the truth. And this in itself is a huge victory for you, for you have regained your freedom. Though it has come at a very high coast, and I am not just speaking of the financial part of it.
Yes there are those of us who had broken free before they had gotten financially caught up. And like the both of us there are those who have lost much. And sadly there are those who have lost everything they had. Most of us however will agree. It's how the scam had hurt us deep inside. And how that pain had out weighed the damage done to our bank accounts which was the deepest concerns. But like yourself one way or another we do get past the financially damage with time. And with help our heart and souls mend as well.
The innocence may have been lost. But what will replace it is strength and wisdom.
BurnedBad
I also think that a group of them may be colluding together, because after my entanglement with the first one, a second and a third started hitting me up. It was like they had me tagged as an easy mark or something.
You are on the right track here, but it is a hell of a lot more then just random collusion among individual scammers. It is a well organized crime ring to the point it is a mafia in it's own right. Complete with bosses and lower ranking officers.
And as you will learn you were not just being scammed by a single scammer but a team of scammers working together. There are those who create the profiles and make first contact. Then there are the ones who say all of the right things to get you interested. There are the ones who make the financially arrangements. And there are the strong arms who try intimidation tactics to keep a victim in line. These are just a few examples.
And there is something else. Scammers do not like to let go of a victim once the victim is on a paying basses. In this respect it is the scammers who act very stupidly. They think all the have to do is say all of the right words again, or try to threaten and they will get a victim back to paying them.
Also it is common for scammers to buy and sell victims information among themselves. So it maybe necessary for you to change your phone number and email address to avoid their harassment.
BurnedBad
Now, I want to know how I can help and what I can do above and beyond posting their profiles here.
As you learn more about this site you will see how other here help, and some of them go way more then just above and beyond. But first take some time to recover from this. You have lost more then just 55K. You have lost something that was very special to you. It's not unlike the loss of a dear loved one. And even though they were nothing more but made up lies, your feeling for them were very real and genuine. You have more then earned your right to grieve this passing.
Once you are feeling more yourself and see how this site works I think you will find a way, or ways to help that is best for you if that is what you wish.
Bur first things first. Focus on yourself. Everything else will fall into place in due time.
One last thing. You are among friends here. If there is anything you need to know, or have any questions. Just ask. It's what we are here for.