SWM is a scam

According to reports, Justin Allred, 32, a Provo-area non-smoking SWM, may have lied about his taste for long walks and sunsets.
Allred's long-walks- and sunset-liking claim, which has appeared on the lds linkup personals section since late December, is believed by local police to be part of an elaborate scheme by the at-large Allred to lure unsuspecting attractive, fit SWFs between the ages of 25 to 35.
"Lurking somewhere in this city is a scam artist who lures innocent women to his profile with false claims of enjoying sunsets, long walks and various other activities of a romantic nature," Provo police chief Dave Woodall said. "We are urging all women in the area to exercise extreme caution when approaching unfamiliar men for friendship and possibly more."
In addition to sunsets and long walks, Allred, who sometimes goes by the aliases "Classy Companion" and "Your Mr. Right?" claimed in the 58-word profile to have a fondness for candlelit dinners, close companionship and new adventures. Allred's numerous victims said these claims are also false.
"In the ad, Justin sounded like a real teddy bear, so I called him up," said "Kares A Lot", a 31-year-old veterinarian's assistant who is intelligent and independent, but also a dreamer. "Then, after a few weeks of dating him, it became clear that Justin wasn't interested in anything but drinking Mtn Dew and watching COPS. Once, I even suggested that we go for a walk and he said, 'Walk? What do you want to walk for?' It was obvious that I had been the victim of a scam."
Shoe-store manager "Special J", a once bitten, twice shy, recently divorced professional with above-average looks, had a similar experience with Allred. "When I saw his ad, it seemed too good to be true," said "Special J", who has been looking for a discriminating soulmate for good times and great conversation since February 2006. "After all, it sounded like we had a lot in common, like the part in the ad that said he 'enjoys having fun.' Well, as I quickly found out, it was too good to be true."
Thus far, police said, Allred's scam has claimed eight victims. In addition to "Special J" and "Kares A Lot", six other women responded to Allred's personals ad during its five-week online, including three who actually went on dates with Allred and one who left several flirt messages for him on his profile.
"Something about this particular profile just didn't add up," said Det. Daniel Stenson, who launched the investigation of Allred after spotting his ad in a special Jan. 3 "Catch The Love Bug" pull-out section on the lds linkup site. "A well-built outdoors-type who loves spending cuddly evenings in front of the fireplace and going out to movies? It just didn't seem possible for one man to have so many wildly divergent interests."
Also being sought by police is Jack Larsen, a friend of Justin who is widely suspected to be the individual who suggested that Allred try placing a personals ad. According to police, Larsen also may have assisted Allred in writing the ad, in effect making him an accomplice to the crime.
"Serving as an accomplice to fraud is a serious crime with serious consequences," Stenson said. "If Mr. Larsen is caught, he will have some very grave questions to answer."
Though no formal charges have yet been filed against Allred, police have collected substantial evidence against him. For example, contrary to Allred's claim of being "a major music lover," a police search of his home found that he owns only six CDs, one of which is a Best of Manilow disc still in its plastic shrink-wrap. Further, Allred's assertion that he loves "drinking rootbeer floats by the fireplace" was cast into doubt when investigators found no trace of either rootbeer or a fireplace in his three-room apartment.
"It is clear that by concocting these deliberately misleading fabrications, Allred intended to represent himself in a positive light to overly trusting members of the opposite sex," Stenson said. "And for what purpose? To ensnare them in the cruel web of banality and boredom that is his existence as an aging single."
Anyone with information about Allred is urged to call the Provo Police Department. Callers must be 18 or older, and all calls are strictly confidential. Touchtone phones only. No fatties.