Let's not be too hard on the guys who fall for such scams. It's in all our interests for thieving pro$$ies to be exposed, and that's less likely if their victims are left feeling too ashamed to come forward. This is UKpunting, where the punter comes first.
Also, some of those sob-stories might be genuine. That doesn't justify a pro$$ie's refusal to repay the punter, and they should still be exposed as thieves, but it might explain how an intelligent and compassionate punter can get sucked in.
I haven't been a victim myself, but I'm a mean bastard who gives fuck all to charities of any sort, so that's hardly surprising. I appreciate that there are "better men than me" out there, and they are the ones who become victims of this.