Before You Press Send: My Story and How to Pause One Moment Taking That Next Step

What happens when trust, hope and emotional connection are gradually turned into instruments of financial manipulation?Before You Press Send is Richard Williams's deeply personal account of becoming caught in a sophisticated online impersonation and romance scam. Contact moves from familiar social-media platforms into private conversations, where reassurance, urgency and promises of meeting are repeatedly followed by requests for money.Richard describes the warning signs he missed, the emotional pressure he experienced and the devastating personal and financial consequences that remained after the payments had been made. His story also explores cryptocurrency transfers, changing identities, disappearing messages and the relentless cycle of hope, doubt and renewed demands.This is not simply a story about money. It is about trust, isolation, emotional attachment and the difficulty of stepping back when someone appears to understand exactly what you need to hear.Throughout the book, carefully placed reflection points invite readers to pause, examine what is happening and ask the question that can be much easier to answer on behalf of someone else: What would you tell someone you love if these were their messages?Written without judgement, Before You Press Send offers victims, families and anyone forming relationships online a compassionate warning-and one potentially life-changing habit: Pause for one moment before taking that next step.